Ruth
Ruth Ann Kiger
Ruth Ann Kiger
PARK HILLS, MO. – Ruth Ann (St. Gemme) (Seals) Kiger, of Park Hills, died Feb. 27, 2017, in Bonne Terre, Mo. She was 80.
Kiger was born in Rivermines, MO., Feb. 16, 1937. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Glenwood St. Gemme and Bertie Bernice (Welch) St. Gemme, her sister Joyce Loraine (St. Gemme) Martin, her first husband of 20 years, Maj. Charles “Jack” Seals Jr., her daughter Teresa “Teri” Seals, and her second husband of 34 years William “Bill” Kiger.
Ruth Ann is survived by her sons; Chuck Seals, Jon Seals and his wife Tippi Seals of Park Hills, and step-daughter Shelly Kiger of Desloge. Grandchildren include; Jennifer Cooper, Tori Barber and her husband Tony Barber of Farmington; Jessica Rieger and her husband Andrew Rieger of Bonne Terre; Jillian Seals and her fiancé Tyler Smith of Skiatook, Okla.; Deacon Seals and his wife Emily Seals of Rolla; Brooke Lester and her husband Brett Lester of Lesterville; and Connor Dixon of Desloge. Great-grandchildren include Braxton Harvill, Kinzey Rieger, Addi Rieger, Brody Lester, and Breah Lester. Other close family members include Eric Martin of Farmington; Ann and Bob Williams of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Carla Johnson of Goldsboro, N.C.; Wayne and Jeong Hee Dillingham of Shelbyville, Tenn.; several cousins, dozens of nieces and nephews; and hundreds of friends all over the world.
Immediately after graduating Flat River High School in 1955, Ruth Ann married Jack Seals of Bonne Terre and joined him in Pensacola, FL., where Seals became a Naval aviator. Ruth Ann worked for an attorney in Mobile, Ala., (prior to the Civil Rights Era) and became a strident supporter of all equal rights the rest of her life.
Like most military families, the Seals moved more than a dozen times while in service. The Vietnam War brought Ruth Ann and three small children back home to Missouri during Jack's three tours in combat. She returned for good in 1975, when a private helicopter accident took the lives of her first husband and 14-year-old daughter.
Ruth Ann and her two sons settled in Flat River, MO. She immersed herself in the church and searched for joy after such tragedy. That joy finally came to her in the form of her second husband, Bill Kiger. The Kigers founded a puppet ministry, a softball league, a bird dog kennel, a couple of churches, and helped several successful political campaigns. Bill was the outgoing life of the party while Ruth Ann was always the brains behind every operation.
Bill wanted to open a restaurant but Ruth Ann fired back, “I know how that will be. I'll be in the back doing all the work while you're out there laughing and telling stories with the customers. That's not going to happen!”
Ruth Ann worked in the St. Francois County prosecuting attorney's office for decades until retiring in 2000. She was a legal secretary by trade, but a mentor by calling. Ruth Ann felt her goal in life was to encourage others and be a positive influence. Even in her final years, when she was unable to walk, she was a conduit for knowledge, wisdom, and strength.
The Internet allowed Ruth Ann to reach thousands of people, most of whom knew her from a Facebook page dedicated to fans of the Hallmark Channel's, “When Calls The Heart.” Ruth Ann used her creativity to create fan art and memes for the group.
Whether it was a Sunday school class, officers’ wives club, Girl Scouts, Weight Watchers, Democratic organization, or TV show fan club, Ruth Ann always seemed to find herself in a leadership position. Her blunt, honest advice was indispensable to almost everyone who knew her. Her influence will continue for several generations. Ruth Ann will be truly missed.
Special thanks to all former and current employees of St. Joe Manor and Serenity HospiceCare, especially Stephanie Boyer, who comforted Ruth Ann through most of her final year.
A private celebration of her life will take place at a later date.
PARK HILLS, MO. – Ruth Ann (St. Gemme) (Seals) Kiger, of Park Hills, died Feb. 27, 2017, in Bonne Terre, Mo. She was 80.
Kiger was born in Rivermines, MO., Feb. 16, 1937. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Glenwood St. Gemme and Bertie Bernice (Welch) St. Gemme, her sister Joyce Loraine (St. Gemme) Martin, her first husband of 20 years, Maj. Charles “Jack” Seals Jr., her daughter Teresa “Teri” Seals, and her second husband of 34 years William “Bill” Kiger.
Ruth Ann is survived by her sons; Chuck Seals, Jon Seals and his wife Tippi Seals of Park Hills, and step-daughter Shelly Kiger of Desloge. Grandchildren include; Jennifer Cooper, Tori Barber and her husband Tony Barber of Farmington; Jessica Rieger and her husband Andrew Rieger of Bonne Terre; Jillian Seals and her fiancé Tyler Smith of Skiatook, Okla.; Deacon Seals and his wife Emily Seals of Rolla; Brooke Lester and her husband Brett Lester of Lesterville; and Connor Dixon of Desloge. Great-grandchildren include Braxton Harvill, Kinzey Rieger, Addi Rieger, Brody Lester, and Breah Lester. Other close family members include Eric Martin of Farmington; Ann and Bob Williams of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Carla Johnson of Goldsboro, N.C.; Wayne and Jeong Hee Dillingham of Shelbyville, Tenn.; several cousins, dozens of nieces and nephews; and hundreds of friends all over the world.
Immediately after graduating Flat River High School in 1955, Ruth Ann married Jack Seals of Bonne Terre and joined him in Pensacola, FL., where Seals became a Naval aviator. Ruth Ann worked for an attorney in Mobile, Ala., (prior to the Civil Rights Era) and became a strident supporter of all equal rights the rest of her life.
Like most military families, the Seals moved more than a dozen times while in service. The Vietnam War brought Ruth Ann and three small children back home to Missouri during Jack's three tours in combat. She returned for good in 1975, when a private helicopter accident took the lives of her first husband and 14-year-old daughter.
Ruth Ann and her two sons settled in Flat River, MO. She immersed herself in the church and searched for joy after such tragedy. That joy finally came to her in the form of her second husband, Bill Kiger. The Kigers founded a puppet ministry, a softball league, a bird dog kennel, a couple of churches, and helped several successful political campaigns. Bill was the outgoing life of the party while Ruth Ann was always the brains behind every operation.
Bill wanted to open a restaurant but Ruth Ann fired back, “I know how that will be. I'll be in the back doing all the work while you're out there laughing and telling stories with the customers. That's not going to happen!”
Ruth Ann worked in the St. Francois County prosecuting attorney's office for decades until retiring in 2000. She was a legal secretary by trade, but a mentor by calling. Ruth Ann felt her goal in life was to encourage others and be a positive influence. Even in her final years, when she was unable to walk, she was a conduit for knowledge, wisdom, and strength.
The Internet allowed Ruth Ann to reach thousands of people, most of whom knew her from a Facebook page dedicated to fans of the Hallmark Channel's, “When Calls The Heart.” Ruth Ann used her creativity to create fan art and memes for the group.
Whether it was a Sunday school class, officers’ wives club, Girl Scouts, Weight Watchers, Democratic organization, or TV show fan club, Ruth Ann always seemed to find herself in a leadership position. Her blunt, honest advice was indispensable to almost everyone who knew her. Her influence will continue for several generations. Ruth Ann will be truly missed.
Special thanks to all former and current employees of St. Joe Manor and Serenity HospiceCare, especially Stephanie Boyer, who comforted Ruth Ann through most of her final year.
A private celebration of her life will take place at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruth Ann Kiger, please visit our flower store.
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