Obituary of Ruth Loucks Lavery

Mrs. Ruth Loucks Lavery, age 99, died Friday, November 10, 2006 at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home, Ballston Spa, NY. She was born March 23, 1907 in Gloversville, NY, the daughter of the late Willis and Leonora Fort Loucks. A 1925 graduate of Gloversville High School, she attended Folt?s Mission Institute in Herkimer, NY; an all girl?s training school, and then graduated from the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, receiving her teaching certificate. She taught in Rome, NY for a year and subsequently did occasional substitute teaching in Troy, NY; Poultney, VT; White River Jct; VT; Corinth, NY and Gloversville, NY until 1973. Ruth was married on July 4, 1929 to the Rev. Milton M. Lavery and they began a ministerial career together serving churches in Rock City Falls, East Galway and Middle Grove, NY; Schuylerville, NY; Troy, NY; Poultney, VT; White River Junction, VT; Corinth, NY; Gloversville, NY; the Glens Falls District of the Troy Annual Conference; and Ballston Spa, NY. They retired together to Gloversville in 1973, and became active members of the North Main Street United Methodist Church there. As a pastor?s wife for fifty-three years she taught leadership training courses for church-school teachers and was a charter member of the United Methodist Women, taking a very active role in local church and Conference Women?s Societies. She served as Vice president of the Glens Falls District Women?s Society and chaired several minister?s wives? retreats. Additionally she chaired local church mission committees, served with Church Women United, and represented her church to the local Council of Churches. She was also a past member of the Conference Board of pensions, the Administrative Board of her local church, and served on the Centennial Committee for the North Main Street United Methodist Church in Gloversville. Ruth delivered Meals on Wheels to shut-ins until she was 90 years of age and she frequently visited the sick, homebound and the aged. She also enjoyed travel throughout much of Europe and Israel as well as throughout the United States and Canada. Her husband died in 1983, and they are survived by two sons and one daughter: John and his wife Caryl Lavery of Clermont, Florida; Mary and Harris Lyman of White River Junction, Vermont; and Rev. James Lavery of Ballston Spa, NY. Ruth is also survived by eleven grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren. She also has a nephew Charles Loucks in Houston, Texas. The family will receive relatives and friends from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm Saturday at the North Main Street United Methodist Church in Gloversville, where a funeral service will follow at 1:00 pm with the Rev. Christopher Hamm officiating. A light lunch in the Fellowship Hall will be provided by the ladies of the church. Interment will take place at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gloversville. Memorial Contributions may be made to the North Main Street United Methodist Church, 316 N. Main St; Gloversville, NY 12078. Arrangements are by Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, Gloversville, NY.