Frances Eileen Ruttinger

Frances Eileen (Morrissey) Evans Ruttinger, age 95, passed away on May 2nd, at Life Care Center in Osawatomie, Kansas.

Eileen was born May 24, 1919 in Frankfort, Kansas, the daughter of Francis Edwin and Esther Ann McCarthy Morrissey. She attended grade school in Turner, Kansas and Eudora, Kansas and graduated from St. Joseph High School in Shawnee, Kansas in 1937. She attended St. Mary’s College in Lansing, where she majored in nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse through Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Kansas in June 1941.

Eileen worked 42 years as a registered nurse at multiple hospitals in Kansas City, KS, as well as Kansas City, MO. She was also a private duty nurse for many patients, including a Kansas state senator. The last 12 years of her nursing career she worked as a school nurse in Linn and Miami County, Kansas and at the Kansas State Hospital in Osawatomie, KS.

Eileen married Lieut. Frederick C. Evans on August 31, 1943 in Newton, Kansas. He died September 20, 1945. They had three children, twins James W. and John E. Evans, and daughter Judith A. Evans. Eileen married Lewis M. Ruttinger February 28, 1948 in Ottawa, Kansas. He died November 9, 2003. They had three children, Stephen M., Teviot M. and Robert L. Ruttinger. Eileen was also preceded in death by two brothers and her parents.

Eileen is survived by sons John Evans, James Evans and wife Hoko, daughter Judith Evans; and by sons, Stephen Ruttinger and wife Eunice, Teviot Ruttinger, and Robert Ruttinger and wife Jeanette and each of their respective families which include 10 grandchildren, 4 living and 1 deceased great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Eileen is also survived by her sister Mary M. West and her brothers Francis E. Morrissey, Jr. and Philip D. Morrissey, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Eileen retired from her nursing career in 1983 to enjoy her wide variety of eclectic hobbies which included embroidery, reading, antiquing, travels to Ireland, rock collecting, her garden, and visiting her grown children and their families.

Eileen will be missed by all those who knew her and loved her dearly. In lieu of flowers, Eileen has asked that contributions be made to the Providence Hospital School of Nursing, in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home Paola, Kansas.

Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 09, 2015 at Fontana Cemetery, 383rd and N. Osage, Fontana, Kansas.

To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelPaola.com. Penwell-Gabel Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071 913-294-2372.