Ruth Ann Zakoura...Age 98

Visitation will be held from 6-8pm Thursday, April 25th, 2013 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home 203 Main, Osawatomie, KS

Services will be 10:30am Friday, April 26th, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church 344 Main St. Osawatomie, KS, with burial in the Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, KS.

Memorials are to the First Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie and may be sent in care of the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430 Osawatomie, KS 66064.

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Ruth Ann Zakoura, age 98, of Osawatomie, Kansas, passed away Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

Ruth was born December 17, 1914 in Bloomfield, Missouri, the youngest of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. William L. Tucker. She grew up in Bloomfield and graduated from Bloomfield High School, after which she moved to Osawatomie to live with her sister and her brother-in-law who was Superintendent of the State Hospital at that time. Ruth attended Washburn and earned her Associate in Arts degree from Paola College in 1937.

On June 4, 1939, Ruth was married to George Edward Zakoura at the First Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie. Later, Ruth would claim that this was when her life truly began. The couple made their home in Osawatomie, and in 1948 became the parents of a daughter, Sheila Lynn. In 1950, Ruth and George designed and built a home at 1721 Parker, which has been the place of cherished memories for generations.

Ruth took part in many Osawatomie family ventures, including Firestone and Miami Bowl, served along side the women of the Presbyterian Church, and found great pleasure in creating a welcoming home.

Ruth enjoyed solving crossword puzzles and playing solitaire; she was an avid reader. She loved spending time with her extended family and thoroughly enjoyed cooking for them or anyone else; her specialty was Lebanese cuisine and pies.

She was preceded in death by her family of origin, as well as her husband, George Zakoura, in 1993, and her daughter, Sheila (Zakoura) Oram, in 1995.

Ruth is survived by two grandchildren: Benjamin Z. Oram of Woodland Park, CO and Michelyn R. Bright of Oklahoma City, OK, six great-grandchildren: Christopher, Lily, and Alex Oram, Jordan, Joshua, and Harper Bright, three nephews: Jim Zakoura of Overland Park, KS, John David Cole of Osawatomie, KS, and Mike Zakoura of Leawood, KS, three nieces: Marsha McKeever of Jacksonville, TX, Debbie Heyer of Paradise, PA, and JoAnn Gardner of Scottsdale, AZ, as well as her son-in-law: Steven Michael Oram of Oklahoma City.

The visitation will be held from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Thursday, April 25th at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home (203 Main Street, Osawatomie, KS), with the funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church (344 Main Street, Osawatomie, KS) Friday, April 26th, 10:30AM, and the burial following at the Osawatomie Cemetery.

Memorials are to the First Presbyterian Church of Osawatomie and may be sent in care of the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home P.O. Box 430 Osawatomie, KS, 66064