Ruth Ann Leaton

Ruth Ann (Reed) Leaton, 86, was born July 18, 1940, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Guy Ralph Reed and Ruth Anna Horner. She passed peacefully from complications of a stroke on September 29, 2026, at Spring Hill Care and Rehabilitation in Spring Hill, Kansas, while holding the hand of her husband, William Roger Leaton.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 67 years, William “Roger” Leaton; her children, Kelly R. Meigs (Mike) and Chris W. Leaton (Jenni); daughter-in-law, Kim Leaton; her sisters, Virginia “Ginger” (Reed) Harding and Sandra (Reed) Slane; her grandchildren, Justin Leaton, Jessica (Leaton) Hutchison, Joshua Meigs, Hanna (Meigs) Wright, Rebekah Meigs, Jacob Meigs, Zachary Bergquist, Savannah Leaton, and Travis Leaton; and her great-grandchildren, Bennett Leaton, Amelia “Millie” Leaton, Owen Hutchison, Aspen Hutchison, Jacob “Jake” Meigs, Ruthie Wright, Ainsley Wright, and Samuel Meigs.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Michael R. Leaton and Timothy W. Leaton; her sisters, Sharon Reed, Barbara (Reed) Chace, and Bonnie (Reed) Wilson; father, Guy Ralph Reed; mother, Ruth Anna Horner and her aunt, Rosalee (Horner) Davis.

Ruth devoted 60 years to nursing. A 1960 graduate of Trinity Lutheran School of Nursing, she spent much of her career at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, formerly Shawnee Mission Medical Center. She served for 15 years in mental health nursing, then updated her credentials to work on a medical-surgical floor. In the later years of her career, she followed up with patients after their hospital stays, checking their progress and helping determine whether they needed additional care. She retired at age 80.

Ruth’s faith shaped her life. She accepted Jesus as her Savior at an early age and attended Bible camps. A devoted prayer warrior, she faithfully interceded for family and friends and readily shared her faith with others. At Grace Community Church in Spring Hill, she participated in small groups, served as Women’s Missions leader, and joined a mission trip to Mexico. Her service was recognized with the church’s Distinguished Service Award.

Ruth loved to travel with Roger. Hawaii was their favorite destination, and their journeys also took them to Ireland, France, England, and the Netherlands. They often visited Branson and traveled to Arkansas to see their son and grandchildren. They once journeyed by train to Arizona, and they were planning another train trip to Colorado before Ruth’s illness.

She also loved history, especially her family genealogy. Ruth delighted in sharing what she had learned with anyone willing to listen and in giving tours of the places where she grew up.

Ruth lived in Kansas for most of her life. Early in her marriage, she and Roger spent a short time in Colorado when he was called into the National Reserves during the Berlin Crisis. Spring Hill had been her home for over 20 years.

To honor Ruth’s fidelity to Trinity Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing and her calling to be a nurse, the family welcomes donations in place of flowers to the Trinity Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Scholarship Fund, c/o AcruxKC, PO Box 5983, Kansas City, MO 64171.