Mary Ruth Crafton, 93, a lifelong resident of the Niagara, Kentucky, community, died Friday, February 24, 2017, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

She was a member of Niagara United Methodist Church, where she served as pianist for more than 30 years.  Mary graduated from Niagara High School in 1940 and attended Western Kentucky State Teachers College.  She taught home economics and science for 10 years at Niagara High School where she opened the first school lunch program.  During WWII, she supervised the "Victory Gardens" in the county. She was an active 4-H Club member and volunteered as a 4-H leader for 25 years.  Mary was also a member of Niagara Homemakers Club for more than 25 years, serving as president two different terms.

Mary Ruth was an active farm wife, and she was very involved in the farm community, writing the Henderson County Farm Bureau newsletter for 20 years and serving as Farm News Director for WSON Radio for six years.  She was active in the local, district, and state Farm Bureau Women's Auxiliary and was honored for 37 years of service on the Soil Conservation Auxiliary.  She was a Kentucky Colonel.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, George R. Crafton, who died July 24, 1991.

Survivors include one daughter, Paula Crafton Swartz; one grandson, Ryan Paul Swartz; and two great-grandchildren, all of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home.  The Reverend Dan Book will officiate.  Burial will be in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Robards, Kentucky.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.