Obituary of Ruth Alida McCully
Ruth Alida Lounsberry was born in Port Huron, Michigan on February 13, 1933. She was the only child of Rachel (DeSerano) Lounsberry Maser and the adopted daughter of Leon Eugene Lounsberry. She was a 1951 graduate of Port Huron High School.
Ruth married the love of her life, Donald Cecil McCully, on February 8, 1952 in Port Huron. The couple would be blessed with three children. Ruth and Don moved their young family to Dundee, Michigan in 1960 where she was The Monroe County Assistant Children’s Librarian from 1962-1964 as well as an Administrative Assistant at the Monroe County Court House. Ruth was also a Teacher’s Aide for many years in Dundee. While working during the next 13 years, she went back to college and completed her Bachelors and Masters of Education Degrees from Eastern Michigan University. Ruth’s family was very proud of her as she worked full time and earned her degrees while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Her teaching career in Dundee began in 1977 where she taught 1st grade as well as becoming the first Young 5’s teacher when the program was started. Ruth spent 25 years teaching in Dundee and retired in 2002.
Ruth was shy by nature and spent much of her free time creating oil painting projects, tutoring and giving piano lessons. In 1982 she was instrumental in starting the Caring and Sharing Program in Dundee. Ruth was extremely devoted to her faith. She had served alongside her husband Don as a Youth Leader and was the children’s choir and younger youth group leader for many years at Dundee United Methodist Church. It was during this time Ruth decided to become a local licensed pastor and served the congregations at Lulu and Samaria Grace Methodist Churches from July 1998 – June 2003 and then at London and Azalia Methodist Churches from November 2007 – October 2009.
Later in life Ruth stayed up to date with current affairs by reading the newspaper, she loved to challenge her mind and looked forward to working with her son-in-law on the daily crossword puzzle.
Ruth Alida McCully, age 87, passed away at Aspen Grove Assisted Living in Lambertville where she had resided since June 1, 2019. In addition to her adoptive father Leon and mother Rachel Maser, her passing was preceded by her husband Don on November 25, 1996 and a grandson Sammy McCully.
To cherish her memory she leaves two sons, Stephen Donald (Karen) McCully of Florida and Robert Leon (Joan) McCully of Wayne, Michigan, and one daughter, Julie Ann (Jeff) Churchill of Dundee. Five grandchildren Rachel McCully, Tristan (Brooke) McCully, Kelsey McCully, Hunter (Jacob) Rich, and Sierra Churchill as well as four great grandchildren, Ethan Whaley, Quinn and Reese McCully, and Ashton McCully.
Friends may gather from 6:00pm until a memorial service celebrating her life at 7:00pm on Friday; July 9, 2021 at Dundee United Methodist Church, 241 Sidney Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131. Inurnment of her cremains will take place at 12:30pm on Saturday; July 10, 2021 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Goodells, Michigan. Merkle Funeral Service, Dundee; 297 Tecumseh Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131 (734) 529-3156 has been entrusted with her arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Caring and Sharing Program in care of Dundee United Methodist Church. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.
