Edna "Ruth" Storts

Edna “Ruth” Barker Storts, formerly of Bowling Green, Missouri, died September 13, 2025, at Lynn’s Heritage House in Louisiana, Missouri, at the age of 99. Ruth was born December 15, 1925, in the small rural community of Willmathsville, Missouri. After graduating from high school in Brashear, Missouri, where she enjoyed playing basketball and participating in the school plays and choir, she attended Kirksville State Teaching College (now Truman State University) until her marriage to Vernon J Sloan, M.D. (deceased) in 1944. They had one son, Vernon J Sloan, Jr. Ruth married I.B. Storts, Jr. (Junior) March 7, 1947, in Kirksville. They moved to Bowling Green, Missouri, in November, 1948, eventually settling on a farm in Tarrants Village on the outskirts of town. They added three children to their family: Bruce Storts, Douglas Storts, and Paula Storts Page. They resided on their farm until Junior died in May, 1988. Ruth continued living in Bowling Green until moving to Lynn’s Heritage House in February, 2018. Ruth lived a full life. She worked with Junior in his Pike Amusement business, fielding phone calls and paying bills, while raising her children. Later she showed her business acumen while running her own business selling maternity wear and baby clothes on the Bowling Green Square. After Junior’s death she began traveling with her sister, Ava Swofford, seeing many countries she never expected to visit. These trips included the Scandinavian countries, the English Isles, Germany and Liechtenstein, Italy and Sicily, Austria and Switzerland, France and Monaco, and Greece and the Greek Islands. As a long-time member of the United Methodist Church, Ruth was involved with church activities for many years. She enjoyed singing at church services and meeting with the other members to help those in need. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, I.B. Storts, Jr, her parents, Roy C and Mary Martin Barker, her siblings Edgar Ray Barker, Rex Barker and Dale Barker; her half-siblings Fred Barker, Freda Chrisman, and Norma Julian; her son Vernon Sloan, her daughter-in-law Donna Sloan, and her grandson Drew Sloan. Those left to mourn her death are her sons Bruce Storts (Amy) of Blue Springs, Mo, and Douglas Storts (Sheila) of Curryville, Mo; her daughter Paula Storts Page (Ed) of Overland Park, Ks; her grandchildren Jamey Sloan, of Sedalia, Mo, Stephen Storts (Jeannie) of Bradenton, Fl, Jeffrey Storts (Michaelynn) of Lee’s Summit, Mo, Jennifer Storts Radford (Jeremy) of Blue Springs, Mo, Todd Storts (Amy Jo) of Bowling Green, Mo, Melissa Storts Weber (Eric) of Bowling Green, Mo, Erin Storts Comer of Bowling Green, Mo, Jessica Storts Coriell (Jon) of St. Louis, Mo, Nicholas Page (Amber) of Overland Park, Ks, Elise Page Lee (Jimmy) of St. Paul, Mn, and Drake Page of Dallas, Tx; her sister Ava Swofford, Columbia, Mo; and 26 great-grandchildren and 26 great-great-grandchildren. Ruth has been known by many terms of endearment including Mom, Grandma, Grandma Ruth, and GG. She was a sister, an aunt, a friend, and the life of the party. She was an amazing lady loved by everyone who knew her. When she was asked how she managed to go about her life each day as she aged, she responded that if she could do something yesterday, then she could do it again today. She often added “I never have an ache or a pain!” A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at Bibb-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green on September 27, 2025. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 AM with services to follow. Burial will be in the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Bowling Green. Pallbearers will be Stephen Storts, Jeffrey Storts, Todd Storts, Nicholas Page, Drake Page, Eric Weber, and Jeremy Radford. Honorary pallbearers will be Jennifer Radford, Melissa Weber, Erin Comer, Elise Lee, and Jessica Coriell. Donations in memory of Ruth may be made to the Pike County Hospice or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Edna "Ruth" Storts

December 15, 1925 - September 13, 2025