Ruth Ann (Spearman) Revord

Ruth Ann (Spearman) Revord died surrounded by her family on April 1, 2023, after a brave but private multi-year battle with cancer.  Ruth was born on January 20, 1940 in Houghton Michigan to Russell Joseph Spearman and Muriel Helen (Schumacher) Spearman, the youngest of three children.  The family moved to Munising Michigan for better work opportunities when Ruth was just a baby.  Ruth attended Sacred Heart School through eighth grade and graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1958.  Ruth had a flair for fashion and started working early so she could obtain the latest ladies’ wear arrivals at Chudacoff’s store, earning herself the title of ‘Best Dressed’ in High School.  She was an usher at the Delft Theater where she learned the lyrics to all the 50’s musicals and memorized the lines to her favorite Doris Day films, all while using the flashlight to stop the kissers in the back corners.  She also worked at Pangborn’s Cleaners, a job where she could use her terrific sewing, mending, and fabric care skills.

Leaving Munising after getting married, Ruth often talked about her PhT degree from MSU, known as ‘Putting Hubby Through’.  She worked and raised three children while her husband was obtaining degrees.  During those years she lived in Spartan Village at Michigan State, Cheboygan, Michigan; New Mexico, New Jersey, Illinois, Ann Arbor, and Ypsilanti.  In 1973, Munising once more became her home, and it was then that she obtained a legendary status for her afterschool baked goods and was known to all the kids in the neighborhood as Mrs. R, making sure nobody ever left hungry.  Ruth joined the Order of the Eastern Star and the Munising Hospital Auxiliary, two organizations she enjoyed and actively volunteered with.  After nearly forty years in Eastern Star, she knew all the roles by heart and treasured the time she spent in their activities.

After Ruth’s divorce, with her children off to college, she embarked on her great adventure.  After buying out an original partner, Ruth joined her friends, Gerry Mazzali, Phyllis Baij, and Arlene Froberg, in owning The Gift Station and her true talents blossomed.  After a number of years, she then partnered with her friend Helen Peters.  The Gift Station thrived and Ruth was in her element, a fixture, and touchstone for many local and visiting people.  Ruth was always happy to see her customers and enjoyed catching up with those whom she had not seen in a while.  Ruth loved to spread joy and took pride in helping choose gifts for many people’s most special life events, gift wrapping them with special loving care.

During her time in business, Ruth served for nearly 20 years on the Munising DDA, serving often as the official ribbon cutter for many a street scape or beautification project, gaining her the nickname “Queen of Munising” from her children.  When she retired from the DDA, she was presented with a key to the city, an honor from her beloved city that filled her with immense pride.

Something not everyone knew about Ruth is her love for the Detroit Tigers.  She grew up listening to them on the radio with her father in his workshop and continued to follow them through good times and bad.  She was surprised on her 75th birthday with a trip to see them play live; an experience made sweeter by Cabrera’s home run.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Russ and Muriel; sister, Virginia (Spearman)Nelson; brother, Russell Roy Spearman; son, Gregory Jerome Revord; grandson, Adam Michael Revord; Father and Mother-in-Law, Orville and Bijou ‘Lillian’ Revord; Brothers-in-law; William Nelson, Charles Elkert, Clark Revord, Orville Revord, and Wilfred “Bill” Revord; Sisters-in-law Joanne (Revord) Elkert, Marian (Collins) Revord, and Darlene “Dolly” (Doucette) Revord.

Ruth is survived by her daughters; Lisa (John) Cromell of Munising; Nicole (Eric) Olesen of Appleton, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Heather (Allen) Hunter; Emily (Sal) LaBarbera; Dylan Cromell; Evan (Katelyn Axford) Cromell; Jacquelyn Olesen; Matthew Revord; and Annika Olesen; great-grand children, Kylie Syers, Salvatore LaBarbera III, Violet Hunter and Lily Hunter;  daughter-in-law; Sheryl (Paul) Cromell; numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and dear friends, Ron Avery, Mary Nebel, Helen Peters, and Tina Graber.

A memorial service will take place on Friday, June 30, 2023 at the United Methodist Church in Munising.  Visiting time with family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.  Rev. Sandra Kolder will conduct Ruth’s memorial service at noon.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.