Mary Ruth was born on December 26, 1924 in Putnam County, Unionville, Missouri to Paul and Marie Wilson Davis. She was raised and educated in Unionville. On January 21, 1950, she was united in marriage to Lyle Routier in Newton, Iowa. Mary Ruth worked as a waitress at the Skel Diner and the Tropic Club. She enjoyed babysitting for several people. She retired from Maytag as a press operator after fourteen and a half years. Mary Ruth liked spending time crocheting, knitting and quilting. She enjoyed dancing, camping, her puzzles, spending time planting tomatoes and tending to her hanging plants. Mary Ruth was definitely a people person. Her greatest love was her family. She always had time for each and every one of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchild. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 61 years, Lyle Routier of Grinnell, her children, Marj (Art) Smith of Grinnell, Larry (Irma) Dye of Livonia, Missouri, Connie (Darrel) Lamb of Grinnell, Cindy Weldon of Belle Plaine and Roger (June) Routier of Gilman. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, her brother, Keith W. (Dorothy) Davis of Grinnell, two sisters, Ilene (Jim) Connealy of Gilman and Louise Hudson of Centerville, and one sister-in-law, Evelyn Davis of Grinnell. Mary Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her infant daughter, Linda Sue Routier, her son-in-law, Jim Weldon, her brother, Howard Davis, a sister, Elaine Probasco and three infant siblings. Memorials may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice or to Grinnell Home Health.