Ruby P. Jenness

1921 - 2018

Ruby Josephine Petelle Jenness, 96, passed away on February 8th while visiting her daughter, Kenni, in Florida. She was born on August 28, 1921, in Holland, Vermont, to Josephine Olive Provencha and John Francis Petelle. She was one of eight children who lived to maturity, the oldest of four girls. Her sister Vera is the sole survivor.
Ruby began her education at the Church School in Holland. Her insatiable thirst for education led her to board in Derby so she could attend high school at Derby Academy and again in Lyndon to attend Lyndon Normal School. It was during her walk to school in Lyndon that her lifelong love saw her and determined to make her his wife; however, his National Guard unit was activated during World War II and shipped west before that happened. Not one to give up so easily, Ruby traveled across the country by bus to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where she married Kenneth Leo Jenness on July 15, 1942. When Ken was deployed overseas, Ruby returned to Holland with their first child to stay with her parents. She was persuaded to teach in the same rural school from which she had graduated in 1936. In this rural, one-room schoolhouse she taught all eight grades, including her own younger sister Erma. In the interests of family tranquility, they decided early on that "what happened in school, stayed in school."
Ruby followed her husband, Ken, to military assignments in Munich, Germany, and Okinawa, Japan, as well as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and South Carolina. During that time, they had five more children and Ruby continued her formal education. While on Okinawa, she attended the University of Maryland Extension Program and founded a pre-school long before they were common. Ruby finally received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 from Lyndon State College, and a Masters degree in Education and Counseling in 1970 from the University of Massachusetts.
For 15 years Ruby was a counselor at Brattleboro Union High School. After their second retirement, Ruby and Ken moved to Morgan where they built a large family home on the shores of their beloved Lake Seymour. The house burned down in December 2003. At 82, Ruby acted as general contractor to get a new log house built on the same site. They enjoyed square dancing and were both involved in community affairs. Ruby was a founding member of the Morgan Historical Society and of the women's group which has evolved into the Circle of Friends. She had a passion for Ancient Roads and walked or rode horseback over many of them in the Morgan area.
Having an insatiable curiosity about the world, Ruby and Ken traveled extensively in Europe, as well as to Mexico, Hong Kong, Nepal, India, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Kenya (where they hiked Mount Kenya). They also made several trips to Alaska and extensively toured the state. Ruby hiked the entire Long Trail in the state of Vermont (finishing at age 78), visited all the towns in Vermont, and hiked the 100 highest mountains. Ruby was traveling in Egypt in 2010 when the Arab Spring revolution broke out and persuaded her host to take her to Tahrir Square so she could get a better look!
Ruby maintained an active lifestyle until her death. She loved the outdoors and was an avid swimmer, kayaker, and downhill skier. After Ken, her other great love was Lake Seymour. She could often be found in her kayak on the lake as dawn broke – unless there was too much ice! She especially loved foggy mornings on the lake.
Ruby is survived by six children: Sonia M. Stockard (Walter) of Alexandria, VA; Karen O. McCormack (Frank) of Pickens, SC; Kenni E. Freire (Paul) of Clearwater, FL; Michael J. Jenness (Barbara Peterson) of Palm Harbor, FL; Krystal R. Jenness of Fairfax, VT; Matthew T. Jenness (Donna) of Southbury, CT; and her sister Vera Grant of Bradford, VT; as well as 14 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Her husband of more than 72 years, Kenneth, predeceased her on February 20, 2015.
A funeral service for Ruby and interment for Kenneth and Ruby are planned for July 15, 2018, in Morgan.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruby's memory may be made to the Morgan Historical Society, P.O. Box 113, Morgan, VT 05853.