Ruth Ann Jackman, age 74 of Sumner, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, while surrounded by her beloved family. She was born May 13, 1949, in Olney to Gordon and Dorothy (Neeley) Sheridan.
On August 25, 1970, Ruth Ann married Larry Jackman in Oblong. For over 53 years, Ruth Ann and Larry lived for the Lord and raised a beautiful family.
Ruth Ann found her greatest joy in knowing the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior. After marrying Larry, her high-school sweetheart, she devoted her life to keeping the home, the farm, and her family in proper order! Ruth Ann cooked countless meals for the family, neighbors, and community events. No one will ever forget her homemade noodles and luscious angel food cake! She was an avid gardener, working hard every summer to preserve the bounty of the vegetables she raised, along with taking great pleasure in caring for her beautiful flowers. A professed outdoors enthusiast, Ruth Ann often stopped her work to listen carefully to identify bird songs or to observe animal tracks. Hunting for mushrooms and fishing were two favorite ways for her to relax. Growing up with three brothers and raising two sons developed her sense of adventure. Her stories of childhood antics regaled the family time and again! Ruth Ann LOVED to hear the dogs howl on a coon or rabbit hunt, delighted in driving deer through the woods, and could never get enough of loud motors, be it on souped-up tractors or trucks. An integral member of the farm, she drove trucks, ran for parts, slopped hogs, fed and butchered chickens, and carried countless meals to the field. When she was forced indoors, she made the best of it by reading gardening magazines and recipe books, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, crocheting, and putting together puzzles. Short vacations were often spent camping at Horse Shoe Lake in Southern IL. In later years, they’d rent a cabin next to the river where she loved to listen to the barges going past.
Her church family remembers Ruth Ann for her lovely, meditative piano playing. She taught Sunday School to the littlest people, making the Bible come alive through vivid story-telling, thus instilling Biblical values and teaching life lessons that they will NEVER forget. Her influence stretched far beyond her cozy farmhouse, because when people stopped by, she always had time to lend a listening ear, offer mature advice, and most importantly, pray for and minister to them in any way she could. Over the years, she and Larry provided food and lodging at their home for countless traveling ministers and their families and other precious friends who just needed some time away from the rat race. People told her over and over, “Your home is so peaceful!”
Ruth Ann was a loving and supportive wife to Larry. She raised her sons to be gentlemen, and welcomed their wives into her heart, treating them as the daughters she never had. She dearly loved her grandchildren, and they will always remember how she took time to read books to them, played games with them, and took them on side-by-side rides through the woods pointing out all of nature’s activities. She knew how to make work fun! Breaking beans was a much more delightful task when you were listening to stories of when she was little. Always in touch with heaven, she thanked Jesus for the cool breeze on a hot day working in the garden, and when she lost her keys or her glasses, it was always a soft “Jesus, help me!”
In her early years, Ruth Ann was an accomplished seamstress and piano teacher. She played piano for many weddings and events, singing specials often with her father and then with her husband. She enjoyed telling us what key a song was written in just by listening, for she had perfect pitch.
When her health began to fail and there were multiple doctors’ visits, she earned the respect and affection of her health care providers by the way she always remembered their names, asked about their families, and was cheerful and kind and thankful for all they did to help her.
The community remembers Ruth Ann for always having an open door, a bright smile and infectious laugh,a helping hand, and a loving heart. She was the heart of her home and family–the hub around which daily life revolved. She is already deeply missed.
Surviving family include: her husband–Larry Jackman of Sumner: two sons–Chad Jackman and wife Lori and Chris and wife Kezia, all of Sumner: six grandchildren–Trevor Jackman, Alendria (Jackman) Myers and husband Stanton, Elisabeth, Lydia, Matthew, and Josiah Jackman: two brothers–David Sheridan and wife Marilyn and Daniel Sheridan and wife Debra all of Oblong: four sisters-in-law—Carol Jackman of Sumner; Sharon Black and husband Glenn of Westport, IN; Esther Devall and husband Dan of Toledo, IL; and Brenda Sheridan of Flat Rock: two brothers-in-law–Steve Jackman and wife Sue of Lawrenceville and Ron Jackman and wife Dinah of Sumner, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Dorothy Sheridan, and one brother, Dwight Sheridan.
A visitation will be held at the Beulah Harvest Church south of Sumner on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm (CST). Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday morning, January 27, 2024, at 10:00 am at the church. Burial will follow in Ridgley Cemetery. Cunningham Funeral Home in Bridgeport is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions can be made to Pilgrim Holiness Missions to continue the work of the Lord through missions. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.