RUTH COFFMAN DEATON,

89, of Little Rock, Ark., was born, as her mother would say, somewhere up around Alread, Ark., on April 5th, 1934. She was premature and tiny enough to fit in her father’s palm, but she started out tough and stayed that way all her life.

She died on November 13, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Ruth graduated from Morrilton High School in 1952 and married Floyd Ray Trafford the same year. They had two daughters and made their home on Petit Jean Mountain, where Floyd worked for Winthrop Rockefeller. During those years she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and taught English at Morrilton Junior High.

She and Floyd divorced in the mid-1970s, and Ruth later married Jimmy Deaton. During their years together she worked as a school counselor in the Fairview-Camden School District and Pulaski County Special School District. She earned her credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor and worked with the Arkansas Governor’s Dislocated Workforce in the later years of her career. She was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church, last attending Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark.

Ruth loved helping other people and believed that education was the key to a successful life. She also loved to read and was always ready to pass on a good book to anyone she met in her daily life: at the grocery store, in an elevator or at the hairdresser.

Ruth was preceded in death by her mother and father, Geneva and Loyd Coffman; and her husbands, Floyd Trafford and Jimmy Deaton. She was also predeceased by her special friend, John Wear.

She leaves behind her daughters, Debbie Trafford Johnson (Bill) and Beth Trafford Boyd (Bob) of Little Rock; grandchildren, Trey Massingill, Nick Massingill, Bethany Johnson Howell, and David Johnson Pendragon (Emily); and seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, November 17, at the Harris Chapel with Pastor Blake Martin officiating. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery. Arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association.

Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net