Ruth Margaret (Karch) Lammers, aged 98, of Sautee, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 12, 2025, with family by her side. She was born on May 3, 1927, in Celina, Ohio to Lisle and Margaret (Birkmeyer) Karch. Upon the death of her father at age three and her mother’s struggle with tuberculosis, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Mabel and John Beddinghaus, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended Maryville University of St. Louis before marrying her beloved “Larry”, Joseph Lawrence Lammers, Jr, on June 11, 1949. Larry died in 1980. Ruth is also preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Patricia Karch Stricker.
She was a proud and devout Catholic whose faith and boundless Christian love defined her life. She was colorful, opinionated, and full of fun, resulting in her home being a constant parade of friends and family who loved her and sought her out. She was an active participant in every parish she ever lived in, including her decades-long service as the Director of her parish’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program, Ruth cherished life as a gift from God and was active and engaged in all facets of life, often saying that it was a sin to be bored! She was an extraordinary and loving wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She moved many places around the country supporting her husband’s career and traveled the world with family and friends. She was an avid reader all her life, an accomplished gardener and crafter, played the accordion and even rode horses into her eighties. Aside from her full domestic life, she was involved in her local communities and civic organizations and was ahead of her time as a female business owner, having operated Tekakwitha, a successful Native American Art Gallery and shop in North Georgia for decades.
Ruth leaves behind a legacy of love and family, including her 14 children, 45 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, who loved her. She loved each one as if they were the only one and wanted them all to be acknowledged. Her children: Joseph Lawrence, III (Marlene Voss), Lyle (Anita Hudson), William Lammers (Patti Roche), Lucinda (Chris Daniels), Peter (Lynn Glover), Matthew (Beth Whitesell), Thomas (Beverly Black), Margaret (Mike Conrad), Andrew (Darla Hall), Cecilia (Mike Meggs), Maria (Col. Nolan Clark, Ret.), Edith (Clifford Brycelea), Rose Mary (Christian Naberhaus) and Michael (Melissa Stewart). Her grandchildren: Larry Lammers (Shelita), Jason Lammers (Traci Speranza), , Chris Lammers (Amanda Duvall), Jessica Lammers Daniel, Stephanie Lammers Schultz (Ryan), Angela Borzak (Brian Piszczek), Rev. Christopher Daniels, LC, Chelsea Daniels (Andrew Spain), Erin Lammers (Ted Stark), Jillian Lammers (Evan Georgiou), Bridgid Lammers (+Wes Chavis), Meghan Lammers (Mike Palmer), Zachary Lammers (Tracy), Lee Anderson (Angie), Damien Anderson, Joshua (Julianne Surrency) Lorraine Conrad (Rafael Tabbotts), Eva Conrad, Krista Lammers, Gabrielle Lammers, Andrew Lammers, Major Matt Meggs (Michelle), Andrew Meggs (Meghan), Mary Margaret Meggs (Matt Kelley), Sarah Clark, Rachel Clark (Jonathan Graham), Rebekah Clark, Abagail Clark, Daryl Brycelea, Dyami Brycelea, Amelia Brycelea, Reymond Brycelea, Danielle Brycelea (Cruz Ontiveros), Monica Brycelea, Hannah Naberhaus, Warren Naberhaus (Emma), Lydia Naberhaus, Guerric Naberhaus, Emma Lammers, Maura Lammers, Grace Lammers, Ruthie Lammers, Lucia Lammers, Mary Michael Lammers and Jane Lammers. Her great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren are Jayden Lammers, Shaylen Lammers, Amy Lammers, Charles Lammers, Ethan Lammers, Blaise Lammers, Chase Lammers, Noel Lammers, Micah Daniel, Malia Daniel, Naomi Daniel, Blaise Daniel, Declan Daniel, Joseph Piszczek, Sophia Piszczek, Luke Piszczek, Lincoln Spain, Shay Spain, Quinton Stark, Colby Stark, Gracie Georgiou, Koura Georgiou, London Georgiou, Samuel Chavis, James Chavis, Lyle Chavis, Tristan Palmer, Mia Schultz, Marlee Schultz, Watson Conrad, Maeve Conrad, Russ Lammers, Kirk Lammers, Jaelyn Anderson, Isabel Anderson, Alex Anderson, Bruin Smith, Alayna Lauck, Makayla Lauck, Nathaniel Lauck, Isabela Lauck, Gentry Arrowood, Gerard Meggs, Liesl Meggs, Kane Kelly, Locke Graham, Zeke Ontiveros, Kateri Lammers, Isla Gomez, Leo Shephard and Kignston Shephard.
The family will host a visitation on Saturday, May 17th, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., beginning with a rosary at 5:30 p.m. at Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville, Ga. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church, Clarkesville, Ga., with a reception to follow in the parish hall. There will be a private burial at the Lammers’ Family Cemetery in Sautee-Nacoochee, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Ruth’s name to any of the following: St Mark’s Catholic Church, Clarkesville, their mission, St. Dominic Chapel Refurbishment Project (stdomchapel.com) or St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Cleveland, Georgia.
An online guestbook is available and may be viewed at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Arrangements are in the care and professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256
