Ruth E. Kent, 91, of Mexico, died at 7:15 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2019, at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Mo. after a short illness.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday June 29, 2019, at Pickering Funeral Home. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery.

Miss Kent was born September 27, 1927, in Mexico daughter of Edgar Wing  and Bertha Elizabeth Martin Kent,  sister to Roy Wing and Frank Edgar Kent.

Miss Kent was a graduate of Mexico High School class of 1945 and a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Business and Public Administration. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. After graduation she served as a market representative for Nat Gavender Corporation and the May Company in St Louis and Chicago.

She returned home to Mexico where she became the business manager for the Mexico Public School System.  She served in 1966 as the first woman president of the Association of School Business Officials. She retired after 30 plus years of service.

Ruth loved traveling the world with family and friends, enjoying a good read, and growing beautiful flowers especially nurturing her roses. She faithfully served the Griffin Foundation as a board member until just recently resigning her responsibilities.

Survivors include two nephews, Ron and his wife Sarah Kent, Mexico  and Stan and his wife Nancy Harvieux-Kent, Brashears, Texas and one niece Elizabeth and her husband Dr. Gary Carnahan, Mobile, Al. Four great nephews and nieces Brian Kent, Columbia, Mo. Andrew Kent, St. Peter's, Mo. Katie Landers, Kansas City, Mo. and Ann Claire Carnahan, Arlington, Va.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff of the King's Daughters Home for six years of dedicated care and to the staff of 6 South at Boone Hospital for their excellent compassionate care.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Mexico Area Family YMCA. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.