Ruth Louise Tooley

After a two year battle with breast cancer, long time Washington State resident, Ruth Louise (Beggs) Tooley, 88, died September 7, 2018 in Olympia, WA. Ruth had been living at her granddaughter, Lisa Metzler's house for the past 9 months and was surrounded by loving family.
Born near Ensign, Kansas to Walter and Ethel (Lighter) Beggs, Ruth began her education in a one-room-school. She completed her bachelor's degree at Southwestern College in Winfield, KS, where she was recruited by the Methodist Board of Missions and taught for three years at Vashti School in Thomasville, GA. Ruth then earned her Master's Degree from Scarritt College in Nashville, TN and became a Methodist Deaconess. She served as a Director of Religious Education over the next years in Salina, Kansas; Yakima, Washington; and Seattle, Washington.
On December 31, 1965 Ruth married Vern Tooley, a Methodist minister, widower and father of four. In addition to working as a public school teacher and helping Vern in his ministerial duties, she helped raise the two youngest children. In 1987 Vern and Ruth retired from the ministry and moved to their beloved Mason Lake property, which they had worked hard to develop over many years. During this time Ruth volunteered in the Grapeview School District's reading program and served on the school board. In 1999 the couple sold their property and moved to Shelton. They attended the Shelton United Methodist Church, where Ruth continued her life of service by joining committees, circles, and a book club.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Ethel Beggs, her brother and his wife, Gene and Marcheta Beggs, and her husband of 46 years, Vern Tooley. She leaves behind her four children: Patricia Constantino, Sharon McCarter, Michael Tooley, and Wendy Hulbert. She also leaves nine grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, her sister, Lena Bradley and several nieces, nephews and cousins living in Kansas.
Throughout her life Ruth worked to fulfill her college goal to "do something special with her life." She also enjoyed sewing, traveling, and staying connected with her many friends and family.
A memorial service was held at Shelton's United Methodist Church on November 3, 2018 at 2:00 pm.
Memorial gifts may be made to The United Methodist Committee on Relief, 458 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.