Ruth McCullough

As the love of her life would often say when walking through the door, “Hey, good looking,” Ruth McCullough was truly the heart of her family—their rock, confidant, friend, and beloved “Nenaw.”

Born Phyllis Ruth Turner, but known to all simply as Ruth, “FuFu,” or “Nenaw,” she passed away on September 24, 2025.

She was born on February 21, 1944, in Lamesa, Texas, to J.C. “Jake” Turner and Mary Jean Merritt. On June 7, 1963, in Seminole, Texas, she married her soulmate, Jack McCullough—a love story that began in childhood and endured for a lifetime.

Ruth was raised on West Texas farms before moving to Seminole during her elementary school years. It was there, in the sixth grade, that she met the love of her life, Jack. During a school talent show—while she was impersonating Elvis—Jack turned to a friend and said, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.” Years later, they began dating in high school.

After graduation, Ruth attended cosmetology school and soon married Jack. Together, they settled in Andrews, where they raised their family and spent more than 30 years building a life rooted in love and community.

While in Andrews, Ruth was deeply involved in her children’s lives and in the local community. She was often the team mom for her son’s football team, a homeroom mom at school, and the one keeping scorebooks at Little League games. In 1997, she and Jack moved to Odessa, where they joyfully embraced their roles as Nenaw and Pepaw to their beloved grandchildren.

Ruth was an avid reader of mystery and spy novels, and she found joy in sewing, working crossword puzzles, and watching afternoon baseball. She loved being outdoors and was no stranger to adventure—she often joined Jack on trail rides and spent countless days on the lake, even waterskiing at the age of 74.

Her happiest moments were spent with family—playing dominoes and card games, laughing with her favorite sisters and cousins on their cousins trips, and cherishing every gathering filled with love and joy

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack McCullough; her parents, Mary Jean Merritt and JC Turner, her in-laws, Buster and Grace McCullough; great-nephew Zachary. She is survived by her son, Eric McCullough and his wife Tracy of Midkiff; her daughter, Erin Reddell and her husband David of Odessa; her sisters, Jackie Jones of College Station, Diane Long and her husband Lynn of Abilene, and brother JC Turner.

She is also lovingly remembered by her nine grandchildren: Whitney Carter and her husband Aaron, Zane Maddox, Emily James and her husband Parker, Shade McCullough, Samantha McCullough, Jackson Cade Reddell and his wife Elizabeth, Carley McQueen and her wife Megan, Cassidy Reddell, Lainny Morgan and Husband Nate, Lanny Morgan, Terran Limuel, and Claire Barry and her husband Jonny.

Her legacy continues through her seven great-grandchildren, with another expected in February.

She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of dear friends and extended family members.

Visitation will be from p.1 m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Funeral services will be Monday, September 29, 2025 at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens Chapel with pastor Tommy Tutt officiating with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.