Ruth Ann Batts

Ruth Ann Batts, age 77 of Portage, passed away at Bronson Hospital on September 12, 2020. She was born on September 24, 1942, in Vicksburg, Michigan, the daughter of Lester D. and Esther M. (Griggs) Canavan. Ruth graduated from Vicksburg High School. On July 31, 1967, she married Otto Batts. Together, they started Maple Hill Community Church, with Otto as its pastor. Ruth also found her passion when she started her own home décor business, Simple Pleasures. She worked in several bookkeeping positions over the years, and later in life, Ruth was the Executive Director of the Vicksburg Historic Village. Her family includes her husband, Otto; her children: Lester (Christine) Batts, Lisa Batts, Stacey (Clair) Sootsman; her grandchildren: Jared (Samantha) Batts, Sara (Curtis) Merrick, Tyler Johnson, Kali (Darren) Gibson, and Kelly Sootsman. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers and sisters: Beverly Grimm, Robert Canavan, Marian Kibler, Ron Canavan, Kate Ackinson, and Fran Canavan. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on September 24, 2020, at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. The memorial service will be immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ruth may be directed to the Adult Day Services-Oakland Centre or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Please visit Ruth's webpage to sign her online guest book or to leave a condolence. https://www.langelands.com