Ruth Louise (Crandall) Schmitt, age 85, passed away December 16, 2014, in Quincy, Illinois. Ruth was born January 6, 1929, in Hannibal, MO, first child of E. Daily and Frances Yates Crandall of Monroe City.

Ruth graduated in 1946 from Holy Rosary High School in Monroe City. She won a scholarship to Quincy College in 1946 and there met her future husband, Robert. She also attended Gem City Business College, worked at Broadway National Bank and Hess Investments. She assisted in the bookkeeping for L.A. Schmitt Dental Labs. From 1980-2002, Ruth was the bookkeeper and administrative assistant at the Quincy Dental Clinic.

Ruth was preceded in death by her brother Charles Crandall. Her brother, Kenneth Crandall of Santa Fe, NM, survives. She was married May 13, 1950, to her husband, Robert, who also survives, along with their four children: Richard (and Cathy) Schmitt of Batavia, Rita Schmitt of Quincy, Rosemary (and Jim) Painter of Champaign, and Raymond (and Sara) Schmitt of Raleigh, NC as well as six grandchildren: Jennifer (and John) Popowitch of Mundelein, Betsy (and Mike) Neuliep of Dawson, J. Christian (and Carrie) Painter of Urbana, Michael (and Stephanie) Painter of Champaign, Matthew Schmitt of Raleigh, NC, and Jason Schmitt of Charlotte, NC. Ruth also has eight great-grandchildren.

Ruth began taking music lessons at age six; the nuns who taught her thought she should play organ for her grandfather’s (John A. Yates) funeral when she was 11. Music continued to be a central part of her life, playing piano or organ for Mass, weddings and funerals for many years, even until last year. She was active in the charismatic renewal in the 1970s. Ruth was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Legion of Mary Auxiliary, former president of Sixty and Over Club, former member of the Q City Square and Travelin’ Trompers square dance/camping club.

In 2014, Ruth experienced three falls resulting in broken bones from which she did not fully recover. Her passing was peaceful. She was a good wife and mother and will be missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday evening, December 19, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Private burial will take place on Saturday. Visitation will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church on Friday beginning at 5:00 p.m. until the time of services at 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Blessed Sacrament Church. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. www.dukerandhaugh.com