Mary Ruth Horn

Mary Ruth Horn, age 82, of Leon, Iowa, the daughter of Robert Clay and Edna Willamina (Woodland) Hutchison, was born July 13, 1941, in St. Louis, Missouri. She left this life on Monday, February 12, 2024, at Westview Acres Care Center in Leon, Iowa.

Mary Ruth grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri and graduated from high school there in 1959. She then attended Central Missouri State College at Warrensburg, Missouri earning her education degree. In 1963, she was united in marriage to Miles Roland Horn in Webster Groves. They both taught school at Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey before Miles enlisted into the United States Air Force Intelligence. They spent three years in Turkey. It was there they adopted their daughter, Aydan Junidean, at age three months. In 1971, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Miles found a teaching job at Central Decatur High School, so they moved to Leon, Iowa. In 1972, their son, Timothy C. came to them as a foster child at age one month. In 1976, with the help of attorney, Lee Elson, Tim was adopted.

Beside teaching high school English and Speech and being the Speech coach for contest, Mary Ruth was active in owning and operating the restaurant, Horn’s Homestead Inn, and motel, the Horn Inn. She and Miles also owned the theaters in Bethany and Cameron, Missouri and Osceola, Iowa and started the SCIT (South Central Iowa Theatre) in Leon.

Mary Ruth loved meeting friends at her coffee group in the mornings. She was also a member of PEO, United Methodist Church Women, and Rotary. Movies were always Miles’ and Mary Ruth’s passion. As owners of theaters, they attended the National Association of Theatre Owners Convention every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was tradition that they and their friends, Loring and Phyllis Miller, go to Des Moines, Iowa on New Years Day and watch movies all day long.

Mary Ruth had a great sense of humor and was a joy to be around. She loved her cats and dogs. She also loved the Muppets Show on television; once she even dressed up as Miss Piggy for school pictures. The broadway play, Cats, was her very favorite musical. One could hear her say “thingamajig” and respond with “good grief” often.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Miles Horn in 2003; daughter, Aydan in 1990; and grandson, Blake Horn in 2003. Survivors include her son, Tim Horn of Norwalk, Iowa; grandchildren, Haylee Horn of Rochester, New York, Malloree Horn of Leon, Iowa, Keslee Horn and Bennett Horn, both of Nevada, Iowa; sister, Susan Moyle of Lebanon, Missouri; brother, Clay Hutchison of Florida; nieces and nephews, Jessica & Ben Joiner, Bailey Joiner, Jessa Joiner, Natalee Joiner, Jeff Joiner, Bowen Joiner, Bennie Hank Joiner, and Davis Joiner; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2024. Memorial donations to Central Decatur Community School Foundation or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Iowa Chapter.