Ruth Emily Martin 100 of Memphis Missouri died Sunday morning September 11 2011 at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis.She was born March 1 1911 in Harvey County Kansas to Alfred B. and Ethel Jane Boyd Woodward. Ruth was the oldest of eight children and last of her family.She grew up in Harvey County Kansas and attended Liberty District School and graduated from Moundridge High School Class 1929. She married Earl Martin July 30 1933 and to this union one son was born. Ruth was a homemaker and farm wife. She began taking piano lessons before she started school and played regularly at church services while growing up in Kansas. During high school she played for Glee Clubs and chorus. When radio first came out someone arranged for Ruth and a classmate to travel to a radio station in Wichita Kansas and perform. Ruth accompanied her classmate while she sang and then played a piano solo. She continued to play for church and Sunday school throughout her life and played the piano and organ at the Pulaski United Methodist Church in Pulaski Iowa from 1960 until she moved into the Scotland County Residential Terrace in 1997. While in the Scotland County Residential Terrace she would occasionally play for devotions and church services until her eyesight prevented her from seeing well.As the oldest of eight children Ruth became her fathers helper on the farm. She would often help with the cultivating mowing and raking hay and riding the binder while cutting wheat and oats all with a team of horses. One fall she drilled 90 acres of wheat by herself with a team of 4 horses and the drill. Ruth and her husband Earl continued farming throughout their marriage farming in Kansas Iowa and Missouri. They purchased a farm in Davis County in 1960 and farmed there until their retirement in 1972.Ruth was a member of the Pulaski United Methodist Church and an active member of the UMW group.She was preceded in death by her husband in 1975 a stepson Albert G. Martin and the following brothers and sisters Benjamin Franklin Katie Esther Nellie Alice Amy Ellen Alfred Boyd Franklin Howard Clara Sophia and Robert Clinton.She is survived by a son Wayne L. Martin and his wife Patricia of Memphis Missouri a granddaughter Linda Mallett and her husband Mark of Baring Missouri two great-grandchildren: Curtis Mallett and his wife Jenny of Memphis Missouri Brandi Tague and her husband Andrew of Hurdland Missouri a step grandson Kenneth Martin and two step great-grandsons: Mike Martin and Mark Martin all of Greenville South Carolina three great great-grandchildren: Mason Mallett Lanie Mallett and Levi Tague. Other survivors include a sister-in- law Esther Woodward of Oskaloosa Iowa several nieces nephews and friends.Visitation will open at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday September 13 2011 with the family present to receive friends from 6 until 8 P.M. at Memphis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday September 14 with Pastor Dee Wiley officiating. Musicians will be Brent Karhoff vocalist and Joan Hinds accompanist. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery Milton Iowa. Casket bearers will be Curtis Mallett Mark Mallett Curvin Martin Curvin D. Martin Delmar Martin and Andrew Tague. As an expression of sympathy a memorial may be given to Scotland County Nutrition Site Scotland County Oats Bus or the donors choice. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Memphis Funeral Home 378 South Market Street Memphis Missouri 63555.Online condolences may be made to the Martin family by logging on to mmphisfh@nemr.net. Arrangements are under the direction of Memphis Funeral Home.