Ruth Rebecca Cook-Shotton

July 23, 1920 – December 13, 2010

Ruth Rebecca Cook-Shotton, 90 of Tempe, Arizona died December 13th, 2010 at Friendship Village. She was born in Satanta, Kansas to Bessie Ellen Alexander-Cook and Arthur G Cook on July 23, 1920. Her childhood was spent primarily on a farm in Satanta, Kansas and she attended high school in Sublette, Kansas graduating in 1938. She married her high school sweetheart, Ronald J Shotton, on December 12, 1939. Ronald passed away on October 9, 2010 and she almost went to join him on what would have been their 71st wedding anniversary. Ruth at 36, joined her husband when they felt called to become missionaries. In the summer of 1963, Ronald and Ruth accepted their first call to the mission field in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Ruth and her husband became administrators for La Buena Tierra, a ministerial training center. After mastering the Spanish language, she taught Piano and Christian Education to many students. Ruth coordinated mission work camps, for groups arriving from the United States. She had a heart for making sure that mission work was truly a hands on experience. They followed with assignments in Panama and Venezuela. Altogether they served almost 20 years in missionary work. Her grandchildren will remember her for making their favorite animal pancakes, homemade chicken noodle soup, playing the harmonica, pounding out Alexander’s Ragtime Band on the piano, cheating at card games to tease, and her quick witted sense of humor. She is preceded in death by her husband Ronald J Shotton, one child, Janelle Shotton, her grandson, Nathan Shotton, and three brothers, Maynard Cook, Russell Cook and Arthur Cook. She is survived by one brother, Paul Cook and two sisters, Emma Carroll and Marie Francis. Also surviving are her four children, Pamela Showell, Greenfield, IN, Dr. Rodney Shotton, Mesa, AZ, Susan Turner, Chandler, AZ and Phoebe Ash, Chandler, AZ , nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.