Ruth Batson Carrigan

Funeral services for Mrs. Ruth B. Carrigan, age 92, of Crockett and formerly of Centerville are set for 2 PM, Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at the Walters Funeral Home in Centerville. Rev. Bud Miller will officiate assisted by Bro. Tuffy Loftin and Pastor Joy Richards. Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday from 12 noon until 8 pm with the Carrigan family present to receive friends from 5 pm until 8 pm.

Ruth Carrigan was born in George, Madison County, Texas on June 3, 1917 to Noah and Myrtle (Adams) Batson. She moved to Centerville in 1938 and married Roy B. Carrigan in 1939. Ruth raised their three children in Centerville. She was a room mother, sometimes for several rooms, until her children no longer needed room mothers. She served as president of the P.T.A. more than once. Ruth was active in her church, First United Methodist Church in Centerville, as a Sunday School teacher, V.B.S. teacher and on many administrative boards through the years. Ruth was a homemaker but, she worked along with her husband in their grocery store and, later, clerked for the Lacey’s Grocery Store. She also worked for Mr. And Mrs. Floyd Green in their funeral home and furniture store.

Ruth was a fantastic cook and she really enjoyed cooking. Her baked products were in very high demand by organizations that were trying to raise money through cake auctions, bake sales and concession stands. She was a member of the Centerville Area Chamber of Commerce and received their Pioneer Award. She was also a member of the board of the Centerville Cemetery Association. For many years, she did volunteer work at the Centerville Nursing Home and, at one time, was the president of the auxiliary there. Later in life, Ruth was an active and enthusiastic member of several “42” clubs. Ruth did hand work and made many baby blankets and Christmas stockings for the children in her life. She loved children and she loved to travel. She had a special affinity for the hummingbirds in her yard. She was very outgoing and gregarious and loved by many. Ruth had a great and wonderful laugh and loved to use it. She was another “grandmother” for generations of children in Centerville and will be greatly missed. She died in a Crockett hospital on April 23, 2010.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy B. Carrigan, Sr.; three brothers, Jim Pitt Batson, Lee Ross Batson and infant Elmo Batson; a nephew, Ross Dean Batson and a niece, Gaynell Clossin. Surviving family members include a son and daughter-in-law, Roy B. Carrigan, Jr. and Sharon of Franklin, Texas; two daughters, Anita Carrigan of Centerville, Texas and Mary Carrigan of Port Lavaca, Texas; a brother, Joe Oren Batson and wife, Linnie, of Bryan, Texas; a sister, Doris Gast of Clifton, Texas; a sister-in-law, Eunice Carrigan and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers: Tommy Neyland, Johnny Franks, Robert Campbell, Mike Wilson, Johnny Ellis and Elbert Roberts. Honorary pallbearers: Alan Bass and the staff of Whitehall Nursing Center in Crockett, Tony Boykin, Reese Bellah, John Bellah and Lawrence Johnson.

The Carrigan family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials being given to: First United Methodist Church, 245 S. Commerce St., Centerville, Texas 75833-1965; Centerville Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 340, Centerville, Texas 75833; Centerville Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 452, Centerville, Texas 75833; Elmer P. and Jewell Ward Memorial Library, 207 St. Marys St., Centerville, Texas 75833 or to an organization of your choice.