Ruth Ellen Dean

Ruth Ellen Dean, age 85, Schoolcraft, Michigan died on November 2, 2020 at Bronson Commons in Mattawan, Michigan. Ruth was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 17, 1935 to Gardner Guy Garlick and Beatrice Mary (Schau) Garlick. She was raised in Portage and graduated from Portage Schools in 1953. Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Newell Burson Dean on March 23, 1956, and together they raised a family while living out his dream of farming. She and Newell were parted by his death on October 1, 2020, they were married for 64 years. Ruth was the sixth of eight children in the Garlick family, where she gained her great love of family and her kind, nurturing spirit. She knew how to work hard and loved to be part of a team: tennis and basketball in high school; band and athletic boosters in support of her children at Lawton Schools; election worker in Prairie Ronde Township; singing in the choir; quilting and knitting prayer shawls; and staffing the Fourth of July Ice Cream Social at the Schoolcraft United Methodist Church. She proved herself an able leader when called upon to operate food service kitchens at the Van Buren Youth Fair, Schoolcraft Auto Auction and as the Activities Director of three different nursing homes for 16 years. Ruth was an accomplished homemaker who made and repaired clothing for her family, canned vegetables from a large garden and made jellies, jams, and pies from every fruit available, both wild and domestic. She helped to make everyone that came to her home feel like family, and her home was a place where family and friends were cared for and sustained in so many ways. She loved well and was well loved by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Newell Burson Dean; siblings: Bruce Garlick, Mary Lou Ailes and Polly Goodrich; brothers-in-law: Vince Ailes, Monte Richards and James Goodrich; sister-in-law Marion (Milham) Garlick; granddaughter Kendra Dean and great grandson Paul Dean Rozeboom. She is survived by her children Julia (Paul) Rozeboom, David Dean, Bruce (Therese) Dean and Gary (Wendy) Dean, siblings: Beverly Richards, Allen (Bonnie) Garlick; James (Shirley) Garlick, and Gordon Garlick; 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, numerous brothers & sisters in-law, nieces and nephews. Memorials may be directed to: Schoolcraft United Methodist Church, Memorial Fund 342 N. Grand St. PO Box 336 Schoolcraft, MI 49087. Ruth’s children will receive visitors on November 14, 2020, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Schoolcraft United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Social distancing and wearing of masks will be observed, and the number of visitors inside the building will be regulated to maintain distancing. Visitors are asked to enter the building by the north doors to the Fellowship Hall, and to exit by the south doors. If weather permits, additional visiting among attendees may take place in the prayer gardens on the lot south of the church. Friends and family are invited to share with the family remembrances and stories of time spent with Ruth to: RememberingRuth35@gmail.com. While visiting Ruth's webpage at www.avinkcremation.com please sign the guestbook by lighting a candle, and/or sharing a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by the Avink Funeral Home & Cremation Society, 129 S. Grand St. in Schoolcraft. 269 679-5622