Ruby Lee Sowder

Ruby was born in Athens, TN to Pauline Hamby and Edd Gaddis, the oldest of nine children.

She followed an uncle to California when she was approximately 20 years old where she met her husband, James Sowder, in San Francisco after he had finished his service in the Marines. Jim and Ruby were married in May of 1958 and remained in California for several years. They had three children, but decided they didn't want to raise them in California, so they moved north and spent a few years in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they owned and operated a small art gallery. They continued north and settled in Vancouver, Washington in the early 70's. Jim began a lengthy career with Montgomery Wards while Ruby initially stayed home and raised their children.

In the late 70's, Ruby took interest in belly dancing. What initially started as a hobby became more of a serious interest, and with time Ruby then became a belly dance instructor. She was heavily involved in the dance communities of the Portland and Seattle areas. She established a very talented dance troupe who often participated in dance competitions all over the United States. Ruby was proud to say that she had some of the most talented dance students in the Pacific Northwest. Ruby actively taught belly dancing up until approximately 2019 when she was 82 years old.

While Ruby was teaching dance, she also started a singing/dancing telegram business in Vancouver. The business, known as "Bellygrams", kept Ruby and Jim very busy. As if that wasn't enough, they also started a business called "Clown-Around", which catered clowns to children's parties. They ran the business from home, so there was a constant parade of dancers, singers, and clowns in the residence. Life was kind of like a party. Jim helped Ruby focus on the business after his retirement from Wards. Between the belly dancing and the businesses, Ruby and Jim remained extremely busy well into their late senior years.

In late 2022, Ruby decided to return home to East Tennessee after spending more than 65 years on the West Coast. She wanted to be closer to her siblings and expressed that she wanted to die back home. Jim passed away in Sweetwater, TN in December of 2022. He and Ruby had been married almost 64 years.

Ruby passed away on April 3rd, 2025, in Athens, Tennessee, the town of her birth. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sibling, Faye Langford and Junior Gaddis. She is survived by six additional siblings of TN and GA, her two sons who reside in Washington State, her daughter who resides in Tennessee, and six grandchildren.

Ruby will be greatly missed! Graveside services were performed at her place of burial in the Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be a Celebration of Life for Ruby, hosted by her belly dance students, at the Hockinson Community Center, 15619 NE 182nd Avenue, Brush Prairie, Washington on May 4th from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. All that knew and loved Ruby are welcome to attend.