Ruth Pearl (Watts) McCoy McGinnis

Ruth Pearl Watts McCoy McGinnis was born on March 20th, 1927 to Thomas Rubin Watts & Lottie Lee Harper Watts in Carbon Hill, Walker County, Alabama. She passed from her earthly home in Broken Arrow on January 12th, 2021 and went to be with her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ after waiting her whole life to meet Him face to face.

She is survived by her beloved children: daughter Bonnie McCoy Benham & son-in-law Steve of Carson; son Bryan McCoy of Tulsa; stepchildren Geron McGinnis & wife Julie of Broken Arrow; Kevin McGinnis & wife Sharla of Wagoner; Mick McGinnis & wife Nicole of Broken Arrow; and Chris McGinnis of San Diego. She is survived by her grandson James Benham, wife Chastity, & great-granddaughters Patience of Norman & Georgia Mae of Owasso; granddaughter Jennifer Benham Williams, husband Wayne & great-grandson Logan of Bethany; granddaughter Molly Guernsey, husband Jimmy, and great-grandchildren Kara, Andrew, Logan & Lily of Broken Arrow; granddaughter Jamie McGinnis of Albuquerque; and grandson Sean McGinnis and great-granddaughter Lily of Owasso. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Clayton McCoy & wife Lucinda of Stillwater; sister-in-law Madge McCoy of Jasper, Alabama; plus numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins & friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Thomas & Lottie Watts; her adoring husband of 50 years Burl James McCoy; her second husband of 11 years Lieutenant Colonel James G. 'Jim' McGinnis; her firstborn son Harold Bruce McCoy; seven brothers including John Rubin Watts; Tip Carin Watts; Howard William Watts; Joe Lee Watts, Sr.; George Rubin Watts; and Thomas Woodrow 'Woody' Watts; plus numerous siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

After losing her mother at only 6 years old, Ruth would stand on a stool in order to reach the sink or stove and learned how to cook and clean in order to help her father and older brothers. She would eventually leave high school early to help her widowed & disabled father provide for the family. After marrying & raising her own children, she proudly earned her GED, was able to complete a college course and even travel the world. Her love and talent for cooking & baking led her into a long successful career as Cafeteria Manager for the Tulsa Public School System where she retired after 26 years of faithful service. In addition, she was a longtime member of the Oklahoma School Food Service Association, served two terms as the President of the National School Food Service Association, cooked for Broken Arrow Public Schools, and was even a test baker for Betty Crocker & Pillsbury. 

Ruth was a faithful & tireless member of First Baptist Church Broken Arrow for over 50 years. In addition to cooking for FBCBA and summer camp at Falls Creek, she selflessly served in numerous ministry capacities including the nursery, choir/music ministry and benevolence ministries. Her steadfast devotion to the elderly & sick shut-ins saw her baking homemade treats for them and visiting without fail every week until she was 90 years old. She was an awe-inducing rose grower, sometimes cultivating over 100 rose bushes at a time, plus was gifted at baking, cooking, quilting, sewing, knitting, gardening, canning/freezing, plus anything else she set her determination to. Her delectable treats including homemade pickles, jams, cookies, sourdough bread, Christmas chocolates and numerous other confections & concoctions filled many bellies and made numerous people very happy throughout her lifetime. Her Pastor 'Brother Nick' Garland of many years whom she adored immensely always said he "wore her chocolates well". She was known far & wide for being a prayer warrior who seemed to have a direct line to Jesus, and if you asked her to pray for you she would do so diligently & without fail. Her kindness, generosity, compassion and tender heart for humanity was displayed through these many gifts & talents which she selflessly shared with the world, and countless souls have been forever blessed & touched just by knowing her. 

Visitation will be Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 6-8 pm at Broken Arrow Funeral & Cremation Service and funeral will be on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church Broken Arrow.  Services are under the care of Broken Arrow Funeral & Cremation Service, 231 E. Commercial St., Broken Arrow, OK 74012, 918-251-5331, www.brokenarrowfuneralandcremation.com

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