ELKHART -- Mary Ruth Kesler, 77, of 1807 New York Ave., died at 6:12 a.m. Tuesday (June 27, 2006) in Elkhart General Hospital, after a brief illness.

She was born Oct. 20, 1928, in South Bend to Temple and Lucille (Turner) Clifford. She is survived by one daughter, Cyndi L. (Bernard U. Jr.) Robbins of Elkhart; one son, David A. Fields of Oak Creek, Colo.; three sisters, Nancy J. (Eugene R.) Lanthier of Mishawaka, Peggy (Daniel) Yoder of Elkhart and JoAnn Miller of Edwardsburg, Mich.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Jack (Mary) Clifford of Fort Myers, Fla.; and her caregiver, Ms. Romie Speener.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Temple, James and Clyde Clifford, who is listed as MIA from the Korean War; and two sisters, Zora Clifford and Lois Hardy.

Cremation will take place and private family services are scheduled for a later date. Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Kesler served as a bookkeeper for nearly 30 years for a locally owned grocery store chain in Florida before moving back to Elkhart in 1995. She was a member of the Women of the Moose Elkhart Chapter #73 and enjoyed arts and crafts, especially painting ceramic figures and pottery.

Ms. Kesler also enjoyed flea markets and garage sales, listening to country and gospel music, playing cards and bingo, and entertaining her two "grand" puppies.

Memorials may be given to the Elkhart Salvation Army. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.billingsfuneralhome.com.