Ruth Morene Tuttle

Ruth Morene Tuttle, age 92, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on September 29 in Abilene.

Visitation will be Friday, October 6, 2023 at Hillcrest Church of Christ at 5:00-7:00pm.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Hillcrest Church of Christ with Terry Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Morene Tuttle was born in the bedroom of her grandparents' home on their farm in Ellis County near Bardwell, Texas to Clyde and Sybil Johnson on February 25, 1931. Morene enjoyed being a farm girl as a child, which became a precursor to what would be 44 years of her adult life.

When the war broke out after the Pearl Harbor bombing, her father took a new job at an airplane factory in Dallas, and the family moved to the city. Morene excelled in school and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. She earned a college scholarship by making the highest grade in the Bible program among students in all Dallas High Schools two years consecutively, scoring 100% on all final exams.

She then attended Abilene Christian College, and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business- Secretarial Training. While at ACC, Morene was a member of the Cadettes, Secretary of the Student Council and Senior Class Favorite.

At ACC, she also met the man who would become the love of her life and husband of 71 years, Glenn Tuttle. They married on April 11, 1952 at the Skillman Avenue Church of Christ in Dallas. Shortly after graduation, Morene moved to Ulysses Kansas with her new husband, leaving city life to move into a small house more than 9 miles from town, and to become a farmer's wife.

Morene and Glenn raised their family- children Monty, Les, Linda and Jim- in Ulysses. She and Glenn were also very close to Glenn's family, who all lived in Ulysses- sisters, Merle Mawhirter and her husband Virgil, Fern Bessire and her husband, Roy, and Glenn's parents, Faye and Ralph Tuttle. Glenn, Virgil and Ralph operated the family business, T and M Farms, supported heavily by Morene, Merle and Faye.

Even though being a farmer's wife and mother required a great deal of time and energy, Morene would also launch a career as a very active church member, Bible teacher, mentor and intentional follower of Jesus. Her work and ministry over the years was far-reaching and powerful, touching a countless number of people in ways that simply and unassumingly shone the light of Jesus Christ. In 1996, the family business was sold and Glenn and Morene moved to Abilene, where this career would continue in full strength until her passing.

One of the great themes in the Bible is showing hospitality. In many ways, hospitality is a lost art in our society. But Morene Tuttle was a true artisan in hospitality. Another countless number of people have eaten meals prepared by Morene Tuttle and stayed in her home, always remembering the times they were welcomed by Morene.

She skillfully taught Bible classes for children and adults, even into her late eighties. Her work with young girls through ministries like Caterpillars and Butterflies, both in Ulysses and in Abilene, shaped the futures in a beautiful way of, once again, a countless number of girls.

Woven throughout all this activity and involvement was a reputation for strength of character, integrity, high moral standards, compassion for the hurting and downcast, and a deep love for her family. The marriage of Glenn to Morene and their 71 years together is one of the greatest love stories ever, and a shining light to countless people.

Morene was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Tuttle, and her parents Clyde and Sybil Johnson.

She is survived by her children Monty Tuttle and his wife Tamaria of Abilene, Les Tuttle and his wife Terri of Rowlett, Texas, Linda Varner and her husband Gary of Abilene, Jim Tuttle and his wife Judy of Midland, Texas, grandchildren Jenilee Ladd and her husband Andy of Dallas, Jordan Tuttle and his wife Fallon of Dallas, David Tuttle of Abilene, Greg Varner and his wife Bria of Abilene, Meredith Varner of Abilene, Kristin Rampton and her husband Ryan of Midland, Carson Tuttle and his wife Natalie of Iowa City, Iowa, Shay Tuttle and his wife Deanna Tuttle of Chicago, and Katie Tuttle of Chicago, step-grandchildren, Courtney Rivadeneira and her husband Andy of Austin, Blake Timmons and his wife Brittany of Sachse, Texas and Spencer Timmons of Rowlett, 14 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of friends who became family.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Tuttle, Carson Tuttle, Greg Varner, Ryan Rampton, Bradley Evans and Morgan Gore.

Memorials may be given to the Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E Ambler Avenue, Abilene, TX 79601 and Eastern European Mission, PO Box 55245, Hurst, TX 76054

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staffs at Home Instead, University Place, Lyndale Memory Care Unit and Hospice of the Big Country.