Ruth Loraine Lloyd, 86, of Keosauqua, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Country Lane Manor, Keosauqua, Iowa.

    Ruth was born on November 11, 1939, in Newton, Iowa, the daughter of Max Horsman and Helen Loraine Wake. Ruth grew up in Newton, where she graduated from Newton High School in the Class of 1958. On September 20, 1958, in Newton, Iowa, Ruth married Larry Lee Lloyd, and God blessed them with four sons. Ruth moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Larry taught school and then followed him with their four sons when Larry began teaching on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. Ruth ran a daycare while in New Mexico until the family returned to Iowa after several years. She worked very hard for her family, holding a variety of jobs in Newton, Iowa, including her work at Embassy Manor, Nolan Drug, Deaton’s Studio, Country Kitchen, and lastly, Maytag, where she retired after over 20 years in 1999. Following her retirement, she and Larry lived on the farm in Scotland County until 2023.

    Ruth’s faith in Jesus Christ was evident in the way she lived. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Memphis, Missouri. Throughout her life Ruth was always active in church. For many years she participated in the JOY (Just Over Youth) group at First Baptist Church. She shared about God’s love and Jesus every chance she was given. Ruth was looking forward to seeing Jesus and being reunited with her husband Larry and her son Jeff.

    Ruth enjoyed gardening and baking and had a wide variety of crafting hobbies. Basket making, pottery, making Teddy bears, scrapbooking, and quilting were just a few of hobbies that she enjoyed over the years. Ruth was able to make almost all of her grandchildren their own quilt, along with countless other quilts she made for family and friends. Her most recent craft project was making Christmas tree fabric ornament balls, which adorn every family member’s tree. She loved her dogs and later on, the cats she had on the farm. Ruth’s greatest joy, besides Jesus, however, was her family and friends. Whenever she could, Ruth talked about her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a ray of sunshine to the residents and staff of her care facility, always trying to help new people get adjusted and bringing cheer into their lives.

    Ruth is survived by her children: Beverly Lloyd of Altoona, Iowa, Lincoln (Christy) Lloyd of Garwin, Iowa, Garth (Joni) Lloyd of Arbela, Missouri, and John Lloyd of Indianola, Iowa; two brothers-in-law, James (Beverly) Lloyd of Fort Collins, Colorado, Thomas Lloyd of Newton, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Delores Butler of Newton, Iowa, Vera Lloyd of Phoenix, Arizona, and Pat Horsman of Newton, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; along with a host of friends.

    Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of almost 65 years Larry; her parents, Max and Helen Horsman; her oldest son, Jeffrey Scott Lloyd; a granddaughter, Morgan Nicole Lloyd, two grandsons, Jarrod Moody and Emery Dickman; her brother Jim Horsman; her sister Janet Havens; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

    A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 24th at First Baptist Church in Memphis, Missouri starting at 11:00 am. Family visitation will be prior to the Celebration of Life, from 10 am -11 am at the church. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories of Ruth during this time, with lunch provided by the church following the celebration of life.

     An expression of sympathy in memory of Ruth Lloyd may be left to the First Baptist Church of Memphis, Missouri, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. A memorial may be left at or mailed to the Memphis Funeral Home 378 S. Market Street, Memphis, MO 63555.