Ruth E. (Jordan) Hanke Creighton

Ruth Evelyn (Jordan) Hanke-Creighton has left this world.

On July 11, 1927 Ruth Evelyn was born to Ike Jordan and Myrtle (Nixon) Jordan in Tyner, NC. She grew up one of four children in a very modest 3 room farm house where her mother made all their clothes. And although there was little money there was wonderful food and wonderful times. Ruth attended Chowan Middle School and High School graduating in 1944. That same year she met a handsome young marine, John D. Hanke who was learning to fly the B-25. It was love at first sight for both and the courtship was fast and on July 22nd 1944 they married. Soon John was gone for deployment in the Pacific and Ruth was pregnant with the first of eight children, John Raymond Hanke. Over the next 40+ years Ruth raised and gave birth to Lucretia Ann Hanke, Deborah Ruth (Hanke) Churan, Donald William Hanke and Danial George Hanke (the twins), Rebecca Hanke, Christopher Jordan Hanke and Jennie Bernice (Hanke) Adams.

Ruth and John raised the family in Butler for much of the 1950s and 1960s. Ruth was involved in the church and politics while John was principal of the Butler school. Ruth was a seamstress, making many of the earlier kid's cloths. During the 70s, Ruth and family moved around Illinois for John's work as Superintendent of Schools. Ruth involved herself with more church and community work and completed some college course work and continued with making and selling doll clothes. In 1980, Ruth and John returned to Butler and their farm. In the mid-1980s, the last of the children graduated school and gone, Ruth left to care for her dying sister Audrey. After her passing, Ruth left for North Carolina to care for her parents who were in their 90’s at the time. After their passing, Ruth separated from John and eventually they divorced.

Ruth remained in Elizabeth City, NC working different jobs and often selling doll clothes and pastries at the farmer's market. In 1999, Ruth returned to Hillsboro to be with Deborah as she faced breast cancer and remained after Debby passed that same year. In 2002, Ruth met Louis Ray Creighton and they fell in love. They married at the Free Methodist Church in Hillsboro. Ruth and Ray had a joy filled life until cancer took Ray in 2007. Ruth continued to enjoy life until the end. Ruth spent three or four hours each day on the computer enjoying Facebook where she could see and interact with her children, her 22 grand kids, and 24+ great grand kids. She also spent many hours reading every day, often six or seven books a week on her Kindle. Ruth was also a prolific artist; painting and crafting, and her yard is still filled with plate flowers, totems and decorations she made. Ruth's youngest son Christopher lived with Ruth the last 10 years and assisted in keeping Ruth independent and happy at home. Ruth silently passed in her room in her house at 12:29 a.m. on Sunday, October 17, 2021 with family around her.

Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro is assisting family. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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