Ruth Coleman Morris

Ruth Coleman Morris, 97, of McKenzie, Tennessee went home to be with her Lord on November 7, 2016. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Morris, who died on January 14, 2010.  She is survived by one sister, Robbie (John David) Barker of  McKenzie, two nieces, Kay (Don) Wilson of Jackson, Marilyn (Maurice) Aten of Bean Station, Tennessee, one great niece Jaclyn (Ryan) Holmes of Jackson, one great nephew, Jay (Becky) Wilson of Memphis, three great nieces, one great, great niece, four great nephews and four great, great nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents Samuel Horace and Etta Nesbitt Coleman, one brother Buster Coleman, and one sister Irene Coleman Rhodes.  Ruth was born on September 26, 1919 in the Big Buck Community of Carroll County, Tennessee and graduated from McLemoresville High School in 1938.  In 1940, she started her career with the AAA office in Huntingdon, Tennessee. In 1942, she started with the McKenzie Banking Company as a cashier. She quickly was promoted to vice president and, in 1975 she was elected president. At that time, she was one of the first female bank presidents in Tennessee. She was also elected to Who’s Who in American Women in 1975. She retired in 1986 after 46 years of service.  Ruth was not your average banker. She simply soared up the ladder of accomplishment and success. She was always admired for her rock solid personal values, ethics and beliefs.  Ruth was very active in the McKenzie Cumberland Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder. She taught Sunday school, was chairperson of the finance committee, and was a 50 year member of the church. She strongly supported Bethel University in McKenzie, where she served as trustee.  She took many leadership roles in her community, serving on the McKenzie hospital board, the housing authority, the memorial library board, the indigent care board, treasurer of United Neighbors, the Mount Olivet Cemetery Board, and a long time B&PW member. She was honored by being elected as “Woman of the Year” in Tennessee.  Funeral services will be held at the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McKenzie on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the service to follow at 2:00 p.m. Reverends Dennis Trull, Garrett Burns, Kevin Wood and Tony Janner will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery.