Ruth Morgan Sceva

1920 - 2014

Ruth Morgan Sceva

May 15, 1920 ~ March 13, 2014

Ruth passed away unexpectedly on March 13, 2014, two months and two days before her 94th birthday. She was laid to rest near her parents in Acacia Cemetery following a graveside service with immediate family.

Ruth was born May 15, 1920 in Seattle where she lived the majority of her life. She was a long-time resident of the Magnolia area and for the past 4 years Ruth made "Skyline at First Hill" her home. Ruth was known best as a great patriot, a loyal and avid sports fan, a Bible student and a prolific letter and limerick writer.

Ruth was the second of David M. and Hazel Monsey Morgan's four daughters. Her maternal grandparents, Capt. John and Mabel Hutchins Monsey, were pioneers to the Washington Territory and took a timber claim in Hartford (now Lake Stevens) in 1890 when Washington was a new state. Ruth's paternal grandparents became residents of the Seattle area in the early 1900s. Paternal grandfather, David B. Morgan, and his brother, Tasso M. Morgan, founded the Northern Life Insurance Co. in 1906. In 1928 they built the Northern Life Tower as their home office in Seattle. (This building, now "The Seattle Tower", is a designated historic landmark.) Ruth's father, David M. Morgan, served as the company's president for the latter 20 years until its sale in 1963.

Ruth attended John Muir Grade School, Franklin High School and the University of Washington where she was a member of W Key, Totem Club, Mortar Board, the Honor Society and Sigma Kappa Sorority. She married her college sweetheart, Paul H. Sceva, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Sceva of Tacoma, and the young couple was blessed with two daughters.

While raising the children, Ruth took leadership roles in P.T.A., Girl Scouts, Magnolia Presbyterian Church and Junior League community services. Following her daughters' marriages, Ruth enjoyed many years of pleasure, training and showing four Miniature Dachshunds in American and Canadian Kennel Club obedience trials. Each of her four dogs earned honors but her first, "Rumor's My Own Sweet Toby Boy", was special winning all U.S. and Canadian titles available to him. Throughout his life, this little "Toby" brought great joy to Ruth and her family.

Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Julie S. Martin and Diane L. Hyder, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A private, memorial, birthday gathering will be held on May 15th for her Skyline friends. An open "Celebration of Life" is being planned for a later date and place to be announced.

Remembrances can be made to: Magnolia Presbyterian Church, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, Wounded Warrior Project, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and National Multiple Sclerosis Society.