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KEIZER -- Ruth Mirriam Keizer, passed away on the morning of October 28, 2003, just one week short of her 86th birthday. She was born November 4, 1917 to the Rev. Earl I. and Alda (Beebe) Prosser in Cavour, S. Dakota. Her parents moved to Bear Lake, Michigan in September of 1922. Being the daughter of a Methodist minister required that she move frequently with her family. She viewed each move enthusiastically as an opportunity to make new friends, an attitude that she maintained throughout her lifetime. She graduated from Howard City (Michigan) High School in 1935. She attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana and earned her A.B. degree with science majors in 1940. She taught high school in Byron Center, Michigan where one of her students thought she was so special that she should be introduced to his older brother, Clifford. Ruth and Cliff were married in 1943. Her somewhat nomadic youth was good preparation for an adventurous life with Cliff. They lived in Dayton, Ohio: Urbana, Illinois (where she was an assistant in the Department of Biology); Cleveland, Ohio; Pella, Iowa (where she taught chemistry and education courses at Central College); Bandung, Indonesia (where she taught English to neighbors and chemistry majors. She also home-schooled her own children before forming a cooperative international school where she served as principal as well as an upper elementary teacher). Returning to the USA in 1962, she taught junior high school science classes in St. Charles, MO. In 1964 she moved to Socorro, New Mexico where she taught chemistry, physics, biology and English classes at Socorro High School for 16 years before retiring in 1980. While continuing to teach, she earned her MST degree from New Mexico Tech in 1970. She was active in the NM State Science Teachers Association and served as President at one time. In 1977-1978 she was honored by that organization as Outstanding Science Teacher of the year. Ruth enjoyed singing in community choruses and church choirs. She was an active member of the Socorro Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school classes, served as Deacon and Elder. She worked as President of the Socorro County Educational Retirees' Association and was a past member of the Socorro Senior Citizens' Club, of which she served as President for three years. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; and her son, Richard Paul. She is survived by her daughter, Linda McNatt, of Albuquerque; two grandchildren, Tech Sgt. Destry McNatt, who is serving in the USAF, and Kimberly McNatt, of Albuquerque; her cherished sister, Esther, and husband, Ellis, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Bernice Fowler, and husband, Joe, of Walden, NY; sister-in-law, Gladys Keizer, and companion, Bob, of Henderson, NV; numerous nieces and nephews; her dearest friend, comforter, and confidant, Geraldine Schwab, and husband, Dave, of Socorro as well as countless others who will miss this very wonderful woman. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Socorro, to the Socorro Good Samaritan Village, or to a charity of one's choice. At her request, Ruth's body has been donated to the University of New Mexico Medical School, her final gesture of generosity and in keeping with her life-long passion for science and education. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 1, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at: First Presbyterian Church of Socorro 304 McCutcheon Ave. West 835-0942
        Published on: Fri October 31, 2003