Ruby Bogert "Anna" Nixon

Ruby Nixon

Born in southeast Iowa October 28, 1938, Ruby grew up the only daughter of a dairy farming family. Her earliest memories are of a world before rural electrification where her father reluctantly faced retiring mules and draft horses for tractors. Hand milking 30 Holstein cows was only just being updated by gas powered milking machine engines, and the family wash day was still only once a week. Younger than her brothers by 18 years, she often reflected she felt like she had 4 parents. Her close bond with her mother was abruptly ended with her mother's death from cancer when Ruby was only 13. She continued her education and despite a dubious attitude from her father, she left the farm to work her way through college achieving her BA degree from Ehlmhurst College.

With her degree, she worked as the Education Director for the Fort Thomas Kentucky UCC Church and later as the District #1 Advisor (Professional Staff) for the Girl Scouts of America in Chicago.

Ruby was proud to have a position in which she not only held an office but needed a secretary, too!

When she decided to find a husband to share her life with, she explored another barrier breaking avenue and tried the new computer matching program. When asked what parameter to set the geographical distance, she again widened her horizons to include California and eventually began correspondence with Bill Nixon.

Ruby and Bill married in Iowa at the Franklin township church on September 26, 1964.

The newlyweds returned to California and Ruby set about immersing herself in a new environment despite her initial first winter in California being the wettest in 50 years. She worked as a receptionist at a doctor's office in Placerville and the couple joined the local Federated Church, where they made lasting friendships. Ruby enjoyed singing in the choir and was an exceptionally talented vocalist, having earned money for college often singing at weddings and funerals.

Bill and Ruby bought their first home on Blanchard Road. They completed their family with a son, Guy and daughter, Jill . Ruby became a home maker, but not before she and Bill learned to fly, purchasing their Cessna 170 which remained part of the family for 50 years. She started a dairy goat farm and expanded her abilities as a seamstress as well. No Halloween costume was out of the question, no outfit couldn't be altered, no set of towels, undies or pants couldn't be fixed.

Ruby was also an early member of the Gold Country Dairy Goat association, partook of the practice of organic gardening and home preserving such as canning.

When their son, Guy, decided to join the Navy, Ruby found herself in the hub of activity for the US Navy! Guy shared the wild side of California's Sierra Nevada with fellow sailors from all over the country and even some from Germany. Ruby pulled from her reserves the ability to feed an Iowan Threshing Crew and cooked up extraordinary meals and advice to these servicemen on leave.

Ruby eagerly anticipated being a grandmother and truly enjoyed her grandchildren. Though she faced severe back pain, received knee surgery, and had many mobility issues later on, she was always happy to contribute in some way towards school activities.

Ruby was the family genealogist. Tracing her German family line and documenting stories and tails, names and events with places and homesteads, farms and businesses. She learned how to research and access archives through Roots and Gold Dust genealogy society and traveled to Salt Lake City in the early 1990s.

This interest remained constant and she applied it to many other topics. She volunteered at the El Dorado County Historical Museum where she and her daughter Jill were docents. Ruby transcribed old letters and documents for the research room there and encouraged the whole family to be involved in the history of California and El Dorado County.

Ruby was honored as the El Dorado Golden Rose in 2016. A tribute to mature women of El Dorado County who have given and promoted towards the preservation and promotion of the county's history.

An independent, generous, practical and loving friend, mother, grandmother and wife like Ruby would be hard to find and impossible to replace. After struggling through several years of Alzheimer's Dementia, Ruby passed away peacefully. Her daughter, Jill was with her.

She is survived by her husband Bill, their son Guy and his wife Kris Nixon, daughter Jill Kearney and 7 grandchildren; Bryan, Jacob, Scott, Josiah and Kelsey Nixon, & Lois and Eileen Kearney.