Ruby Leonard Orton Townsend

On November 23, 2011 our loving Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother passed away peacefully at home in Meridian, ID. Ruby L. Leonard was born May 4, 1917 in Silver City, Idaho to Robert H. Jr. and Lillian (Hawes) Leonard. She was the 7th child of eight (one sister and six brothers) born to the Leonard's. Ruby was raised in Silver City and went to school there through the 8th grade. She lived with friends in Boise, ID in order to go to Boise High School, where she graduated. At a dance in Oreana, Idaho she met Clarence (Sid) Orton, Sr. and they married on September 6, 1937. They had three children: Sharon, Judy and Clarence Monte Jr. During the course of their 47 year marriage they lived in Boise, Weiser and Homedale, ID and Burns, OR. Ruby was a hard working homemaker, was very active in the Eastern Star and loved to dance. She operated Ruby's Snack Shack in Silver City for several summers. Clarence Sr. (Sid) passed away on March 30, 1981. Ruby married William (Bill) Townsend (a Silver City classmate) on June 17, 1984. They lived in Homedale and Nampa, ID and traveled frequently. Bill passed away on March 13, 1999. Ruby moved to Heatherwood Retirement Community in Boise in October 2004 and then to Grace Assisted Living in Meridian, ID in October 2009. She was very proud of her extensive family history in Silver City. Her grandparents Richard S. (Dickie) and Phillipa (Edwards) Hawes and Robert H. Sr. and Adelaide (Durgin) Leonard were Silver City pioneers. Her mother and father were both born there. She was a charter member of the Owyhee County Historical Society and Eastern Star Chapter #83 Order of the Eastern Star in Homedale, a Past Matron of that chapter and a past member of the Heatherwood Red Hatters and Heatherwood Band. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, both husbands and her daughter Sharon Sligar, Twin Falls, ID. She is survived by her daughter Judy Tegnell, Boise and son Clarence Monte Jr. (Sandy) Orton, Meridian. Other survivors include her grandchildren Paul Sligar Jr., Filer, ID, Stephanie (Bill) Huber, Carlisle, OH, Lisa (William) Burt, Boise, Todd (Heidi) Tegnell, Eagle, ID, Linsi (Cliff) Pettigrew, Camas, WA and great grandchildren Lauren (Robert) Martin, Amanda Telleria, Treyvan Sligar, Jessica Tegnell, Alex Burt, Wyatt Pettigrew. The family would like to thank the staff at Grace Assisted Living, Meridian, and St. Lukes Hospice, Boise for their loving care. At Ruby's request there will be no services. An open house in her memory will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 2-5 PM at Grace Assisted Living (activity room), 1960 N. Lakes Place, Meridian, Idaho (west of Locust Grove off Fairview Ave., north off Fairview Ave.).