Anna Evelyn Ruley "Grams" James
October 12, 1920 - March 12, 2021
Anna Evelyn Ruley "Grams" James, 100, of Louisville passed away March 12, 2021. Evelyn was born to Joseph Preston Ruley and Mary Eunice Head Ruley October 12, 1920, in Akron, Ohio. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Louisville. Evelyn was a graduate of Loretto High School. Later she graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor and master's degrees. She taught elementary school for more than 30 years, first at St. Raphael School and then at Greathouse/Shryock and Watterson elementary schools in the Jefferson County Public Schools. She enjoyed traveling and was able to go to Germany (and East Germany before the wall fell) and Ireland. At age 80, she went to South Korea and visited the DMZ , and then to China to walk the Great Wall. To her delight she was able to attend the commissioning of the USS Ronald R Reagan aircraft carrier in Norfolk, VA. Always active, in later years she regularly swam laps to keep in shape. A duplicate bridge player, she earned Master points at local and regional tournaments. She and her sister Bernice were a known force locally. She enjoyed canasta, pinochle, and Rummikub among other games. Grams loved a good deal and passed on her love for thrift stores to her grandkids. She was an avid reader and also kept abreast of politics, often sharing her views locally in the Letters to the Editor. Evelyn was a past President and member of the Louisville Colonellettes, where she enjoyed giving back to her community. She was a volunteer at Ronald McDonald House and served on the St. Raphael School Board. She supported St Xavier High School, where her four sons graduated. Evelyn was a charter member of St Raphael Parish where she was a parishioner for 70 years and prayed the rosary every night. After living in her home for 65 years, she moved to Belmont Village in 2015 and onto Nazareth Home Highlands in 2018. She was predeceased by her brothers Louis Ruley and Joseph Preston "Little Ned" Ruley; sisters, Loretto Kluesner and Bernice Hayes. She is survived by her five children: John (Karen) of Vilas NC, Kenneth (Michaelanne) of Westview KY, Robert (Virginia) and Richard (Deborah) of Louisville, and Patricia Ryan (Steve) of Malibu CA. She was Grams to her 15 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 28 great-great grandchildren. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Raphael Catholic Church on Friday March 19 at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at St. Andrew Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00pm – 8:00pm on Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Ratterman & Sons Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road, Louisville KY. The family would like to thank the staff and administrations at Belmont Village and especially Nazareth Home Highlands for the excellent care given Grams. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St Xavier High School, 1609 Poplar Level Road, 40217, Mercy Academy, 5801 Fegenbush Lane, 40228, or to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 15 Audubon Plaza Drive, 40217. Online condolences may be made at www.Ratterman.com. Masks and social distancing are required for the limited space.
Anna Evelyn Ruley "Grams" James, 100, of Louisville passed away March 12, 2021. Evelyn was born to Joseph Preston Ruley and Mary Eunice Head Ruley October 12, 1920, in Akron, Ohio. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Louisville. Evelyn... View Obituary & Service Information
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