Obituary: Sara Jane (Jones) Tuttle

MADISON - Sara Jane Tuttle died on Monday, Feb. 28, 2005. Born Sara Jane Jones on March 18, 1913, to William Caradine Jones and Ida Mary White in Madison, she was raised in the First United Methodist Church in Madison, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday school. She graduated from Central High school. She met and married Selwyn R. "Tut" Tuttle on Nov. 8, 1933. They celebrated 67 years of marriage. She worked at Sears and later became the office manager for S&H Green Stamps in the Madison office. An active member of Christ Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, she helped serve many lunches and dinners for various functions held there. She was also a member of a very special sewing club. Sara and Tut played sports with a couples team at church and the YMCA. They loved square dancing. They enjoyed the outdoors, picnicking and camping, and loved to travel, taking their children to visit most all of the contiguous 48 states by car, camping much of the time. After their retirement they continued their travels, including touring the British Isles and Hawaii. Sara was active as a leader of Brownies and Girl Scouts, as well as serving as mother advisor of the Rainbow Girls. She was awarded the Grand Cross of Color for her many years of service to the Rainbow Girls. She was also a member of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star and White Shrine. She was a member of a very special sewing club. Sara and Tut raised four children. She is survived by her children, Bonnie J. Downs (Dr. David), Dodgeville, Thomas L. Tuttle, Madison, Jane Ann Marquard (Robert), Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Margaret (Peggy) Louise Halverson (Bruce), Iron Mountain, Mich.; 11 grandchildren, Steven Downs; Lynn (Tom) Ihlenfeldt, Peter (Kathy) Downs, Alan (Cindy) Downs, Kyle (Kelly) and Brett (Jenna) Marquard, John and Mark Halverson, Heather (Jarrod) Roll, and Jeffrey and Pam Tuttle; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Selwyn "Tut" Tuttle. A celebration of her life will be held in the chapel at HEBRON HALL Friday, March 4, 2005, at 11 a.m. Her family wishes to thank the staff at Hebron Oaks in Oakwood Village where she has been a resident for several years. She always received kind, loving care there. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Oakwood Village Retirement Center, the Oakwood Foundation; Christ Presbyterian Church, Madison; or First United Methodist Church, Madison. Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 2, 2005