Thelma Maurine Ruffin

Thelma Maurine Ruffin, 94, of Ponca, Nebraska, passed away Monday, November 11, 2019.  A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

Maurine was born the daughter of Earl and Mable (Heidy) Childs on November 22, 1924 in Dixon County, Nebraska.  She grew up in Ponca and graduated from Ponca High School in 1942. Maurine lived in Napa, CA and Dallas, TX before moving back to her hometown.  Maurine had a passion for family and enjoyed animals, especially her dog, Sara.  She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt.  Maurine will be deeply missed by all that knew her.

Maurine is survived by her grandchildren, Lisa (Heydon) Bradley (husband Mike), Jennifer (Figueroa) Barnes (Alfred Piceno), Amy Figueroa (husband Andy Watts), and Brian Horn (step); her great-grandchildren Christian Wakeland, Samantha Bradley, Madison Bradley, Benjamin Horn, and Wesley Horn; her niece Phyllis Curry and cousin Sharon Olsen, who both helped in her care in her later years; her step-daughter Denise (Ruffin) Battin, and several other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mable (Heidy) Childs and Earl M. Childs; her son, Terry Lynn Heydon; her daughter, Diane (Heydon) Snook; her sister, Ardith Lucille (Childs) Gunderson; and her husbands, Claude Ruffin and Walter Heydon.