Ruth Ann Childress

Ruth Ann Childress, a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, loving wife and mother, left this Earth on Friday, July 11, 2025 at the age of 82.

Ruth Ann was born in Gilmer, Texas on July 8, 1943, and raised in Kelsey, one of eleven children born to Tess and Wilburn Tefteller, many who affectionately called her “Fanner.”

In 1964, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry “Chili” Childress, who passed away in 2016. The two loved each other endlessly, enjoying life’s beauty together while at times weathering its storms.

Ruth Ann lived a life devoted to the Gospel and was dedicated to creating a nurturing and loving home for her eight children and husband. In later years she loved doing genealogy research, learning from videos about food prep and cooking, and she never missed an episode of Jeopardy. She passed on her love of antiquing and finding a good deal at thrift stores to her children.

Her children are grateful for the traditions their Mother created for them, such as the annual beach gathering, the bible story of Jesus’s birth at Christmas, and family game nights. Her eight children, sixteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren will miss her immensely but are happy for her to now be dancing with Jerry in heaven.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Hugh Childress; her parents, Tessie and Wilburn Tefteller; and three siblings, Gwendolyn, Wilburn, and Randy.

Left behind to cherish Ruth Ann’s memory are her children, Susan Watson (Pap), Sid Childress (Lizzie), Marjorie Childress (Jon Martin), Vicki Wilson (Rod), Luanne Bailey (Jon), Angie Elkins (Shawn), Katherine Childress, and Rita Heisey (Brent); her grandchildren, Lauren (Stephen), James, Luke (Meagan), Cole, Mylah, Camryn, Zoe, Emma, Rhyanna, Sam, Ava, Lilli, Daniel, Gracie, Alex, Lulu; two great-grandchildren, Owen and Olivia; siblings Steve, Charles, Patricia, Paula, Larry, Glenn and Ricky and their spouses; sister-in-law Nelwyn Nations, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her family will receive friends Monday, July 14, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in the Chapel of Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1122 Pine Street, Gilmer, Texas 75644 with burial to follow at Enoch Cemetery in Upshur County.