Frances Ruth (Watkins) Cleaver

Frances Ruth Cleaver, 90, of Massillon, passed away quietly Sunday morning, December 3, 2017.  Born in Canton, March 21, 1927, a daughter to the late Arthur and Frances (Greenslade) Watkins, Ruth graduated from Washington High School with the Class of 1947.  Although she traveled extensively throughout her life, her home was Massillon, Ohio.  She was the proud mother of five children; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  After retiring from Central States Can Company, she volunteered at the Massillon Public Library and went on many adventures with the Massillon Senior Center.  Ruth loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was an avid gardener, a lover of classical music and an artist.  
Ruth loved her family deeply and we will feel the warmth of that love for as long as we live.  We will miss her as deeply as she loved us.
Predeceased by her parents; sister, Mary Ann Watkins O’Brien; and daughter-in-law, Bridget Gravius; Ruth is survived by her children, Willard A. Gravius, of Massillon, Ted Gravius, of Perry Twp., Charlotte A. (Thomas) Rollie, of Park Rapids, Minnesota, Barbara R. (Chip) Greathouse, of Palm Harbor, Florida and Nancy C. (James) Jobe, also of Massillon; grandchildren, Kelley, Tonya, Mason, Jeff, Aaron, Tyler, Jessica, Samantha and Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Kien, Lalie, Andrea, Tyler and Allie.  Additional survivors include Ruth’s sister, Blanche Watkins Schuette, brothers, Arthur and Roger Watkins; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday evening, December 7, at 6:00 p.m. at Atkinson Feucht Hare Funeral Home in Massillon.  The family will receive condolences Thursday afternoon, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the funeral home.  They have also suggested memorial contributions made in care of the Massillon Public Library or the Massillon Museum.

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