Ruby Torpey

03/30/1921 - 07/11/2011

TORPEY, Ruby
(Kammerzell)

March 30, 1921 -
July 11, 2011

Ruby Kammerzell Torpey was born in Garfield, WA to Charles and Margaret Kammerzell. Ruby grew up on her father's wheat and cattle ranch located on the Idaho-Washington border south of Spokane. Ruby loved animals and enjoyed riding her horse up to her father's mountain pastures, followed by her dogs.

Ruby married her high school sweetheart Lyle Torpey in Coeur d'Alene, ID January 7, 1942. Lyle got a job at Boeing and they moved to Seattle to a tiny apartment on First Hill and spent their early time together enjoying all the best things of the city then from lunch at Ben Paris' to fishing from the many boat houses that lined Elliott Bay. Lyle then went into the Army and served in the Pacific Theater in WWII. During this time, Ruby cared for her aging parents.

Upon Lyle's return from the war, he went back to Boeing and they moved to seven acres in Bothell. She started her habit of volunteering there, serving many hours for the March of Dimes. A daughter, Karen, was born in 1954 and in 1967 the family moved to their current home on 20 acres near Enumclaw. The farm was the other love of Ruby's life. She often looked out across the fields and her flower gardens to the view of Mt. Rainier and would say, "I live in the most beautiful place. How lucky am I?" They raised prize winning Shorthorn cattle, Quarter horses and a prodigious amount of vegetables, fruit and beautiful flowers. Ruby froze and canned her harvests right up to the end.

Ruby was a superb cook and anyone that came over for a visit was served a great meal from a groaning table of farm-raised delicacies. You wanted to eat as much as possible, not only because it was delicious, but because it made her so happy to do something nice for her friends and family. She was also an expert seamstress, designing and sewing costumes for local barrel racers and clothes for her family.

Ruby and Lyle spent their years together outdoors as much as possible- hunting, fishing and travelling. They visited Alaska and Hawaii many times. They also made trips to Tahiti, Moorea, and soon after it opened to tourists, China.

She was unsurpassed as a loving wife and mother. She was kind and wise and funny. She had a hilarious dry, quick wit and could discuss any topic from art to politics and current events. She was a big sports fan and could keep you up to date on every player.

Ruby is survived by her loving husband Lyle, her daughter Karen and son-in-law Jay Carbon of Buckley, WA, her grandson Aaron and his wife Dana Frase and their three children of St. Paul, MN and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Harvey and Palmer and a sister Lorena. A funeral service will be Friday July, 15, 2011 at 1:00 pm at WEEKS' ENUMCLAW FUNERAL HOME. Condolences can be sent to Weeks' Funeral Home in Enumclaw, WA.

We love you Mom. We miss you so.