Ruth B Averitt

Ruth Brittain Averitt, 96, passed away Monday, August 8, 2022, at St. Catherine’s. A service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, August 13, at 12:30 p.m. at Wilkirson- Hatch-Baily Funeral Home with Kyle Averitt officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. She will lie in state Friday, August 12, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Ruth was born January 11, 1926, in Taft, Texas, to Joe and Laura Brittain, the ninth of nine children. In 1947, Ruth graduated from Baylor University with a B.A. in education. Ruth began her teaching career in Pasadena, Texas, in 1947. After a few years, she was urged to move to a drier climate. This took her to Crane, Texas, where she met Billy Joe Averitt to whom she was married on July 24, 1950. After raising three sons, Ruth obtained her master’s in education from Sol Ross University. Ruth and Bill enjoyed traveling and they spent many happy years touring the country and Canada. Ruth was an avid reader and loved to watch her sports. She enjoyed Baylor football and basketball and she enjoyed watching Texas Rangers baseball. She lived her life by faith in God and taught her children the importance of that faith. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Averitt; parents, Joe and Laura Brittain; three brothers, Burl Brittain, Noel Brittain, and J.L. Brittain; and five sisters, Elna Frazier, Villa May Roden, Lillian Gary, Etta East, and LaVerne Nelson. She is survived by her sons, Joe Bill Averitt and wife, Debby, Kip Averitt and wife, Ginger, and Kyle Averitt and wife, Beth Ann; grandchildren, Bill Joe Averitt and wife, Katy, Sally McPhetrige and husband, Scot, Rich Averitt and wife, Erika, Michael Averitt, Daniel Averitt, Kristina Averitt, Anna Cutchen and husband, Matthew, and Scott Smith and wife, Allison. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Joe L. Brittain and Laura S. Brittain Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor University. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.