Ruth Gurley

RUTH GURLEY Passed away at Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco on March 26, 2002 at the age of 66 after a six-week illness, resulting from a heart condition. Ruth was born on October 20, 1935 in Lawrence, Oklahoma to Mansford "Walter" and Lillian Phillips and moved to Belmont, California with her husband, Kenneth, in 1960. Ruth and Ken were happily married and would have been celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary on April 3, 2002. Ruth worked as a secretary in the Trust department of Bank of America for five years (1970-1975) and then worked as a legal secretary for over 21 years for Mr. James T. Morton, Esq. in San Mateo. After Mr. Morton's retirement in 1996, Ruth worked Mr. Dave Schricker, City Attorney for Redwood City, until she retired in July 2001. She was a California Certified Legal Secretary (CCLS) and was very active in the San Mateo County Legal Secretaries Association (SMCLSA). Ruth served two terms as President (1992-94), two terms as the association's state representative to Legal Secretaries Incorporated (1994 - 96), and four terms as Parliamentarian. She was serving her second term as Chairman of the California Certified Legal Secretary Committee for Legal Secretaries Incorporated. Just prior to her illness, she was appointed to a four-year term on the CCLS Certifying Board. From 1991 to 1996, Ruth was a Child Advocate working through he CASA program with the San Mateo County Juvenile Court. She received the Special Volunteer Award presented by the San Jose Junior League to the most outstanding Child Advocate in 1996. In addition, Ruth spent many years volunteering to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Bobby Sox Softball. Ruth was preceded in death by five brothers, Carl, Herbert, Mansford, Harry and Dean Phillips and two sisters, Pauline Owens and Johnnie Whiten. She is survived by two brothers, Frank Phillips (Louise) of Indiana, and Fred Phillips (Betty) of Oklahoma. Ruth was the devoted mother to two children, Ken D. Gurley (Carolynne Born) and Diana DaBaldo (John). She was also the loving grandmother of Gina and Stacey DaBaldo. Friends and family are invited to her Memorial Service, which will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2002 at 11:00 am at Duggan's Carlmont Chapel, 1101 Alameda de las Puglas, Belmont, California. A reception to celebrate her life will immediately follow at Twin Pines Lodge, 1225 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Ruth's name to the American Cancer Society. Attn: "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer", 1700 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612. Duggans Belmont (650) 591-8218