Mary Ruth Johnson Beattie, 89, passed away on March 23, 2015. Born in Knoxville TN, she moved to Starkville in 1948 as secretary with the First Baptist Church that at the time had only 3 employees. She was a graduate of Blue Mountain College and during WWII was an employee of the War Department working secretly on the 'Manhattan Project' at Oak Ridge. She worked at Mississippi State University for 15 years in the office of International Affairs assisting students from abroad with admission.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry A Beattie Jr. She is survived by her 4 children, Henry A Beattie III (Martha) of Scottsdale AZ, Mary Katherine Beattie Swedenburg (Scott) of Birmingham AL, Carol J Beattie Shead (Russell) of Ft Worth TX, and James V Beattie of Starkville and 4 grandchildren.

Visitation for Mrs. Beattie is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 to 11:00 with a service immediately following in the Welch Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to the National Alzheimer's Association.