Arlene P. Ruark

Arlene Patricia (Pat) Ruark Pat Ruark, aged 85, went home to be with her Lord peacefully, surrounded by family on June 8, 2019 at home in Canton, Michigan after a yearlong struggle with cancer. Pat was born on May 4, 1934 at home in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Jack and Muriel Cochrane. She grew up in Dearborn, Michigan along with her three sisters and one brother. Pat had three passions in life; Family, Caring for the sick, and Singing. As a teenager, she traveled with her father singing in his evangelistic crusades and eventually graduating from Dearborn High School. Pat attended the First Baptist Church of Wayne where she met the love of her life, Rex S. Ruark. Rex and Pat were married on June 19, 1954 and had three children, Rex Reese Ruark, Vicki Lynn Ruark and Kevin Reese Ruark. They were married 37 years, until Rex’s death in 1991. Pat attended Northwestern University where she started her nursing degree, completing her Registered Nurse education at Henry Ford Hospital and later attending Concordia University where she graduated with a Health Administration degree. Pat spent 54 years as a Registered Nurse with many of those years spent in the Emergency Room at Wayne County General Hospital and Annapolis Hospital. In 1987, she started RN Home Health Care and worked in Home Health/Hospice the rest of her career. Pat moved to Naples Florida in 1999 and while attending the First Baptist Church of Naples she took her love for nursing around the world, participating in multiple mission trips to Africa, Asia and South America. Pat is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Muriel Cochrane, her husband Rex S. Ruark, her son Rex R. Ruark and her brother John F. Cochrane. She is survived by her children, Keith and Vicki (Ruark) Welty, Kevin and Janni Ruark, grandchildren, Aaron, Welty, Jamin Ruark, Seth Welty, Breanna (Ruark) Saagman, Matt Saagman and great granddaughter McKinnon Saagman. She is also survived by her dear sisters, Dawn Wattson, Jackie Wattson and Sandra Hebron. There will be a celebration of Pat’s life at Trinity Church, 10101 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, Michigan on Thursday, June 13th. The family will gather with friends at the church starting at 10:00 AM until the 11:00 AM Service. Memorials in Arlene’s name can be made to the First Baptist Church of Naples-World Missions Fund, 3000 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, Florida 34109. To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Arlene P. Ruark

May 4, 1934 - June 8, 2019