Ruby N. WEST

1921 - 2024

September 23, 1921 - July 10, 2024

Ruby Nadine Rutledge was born September 23, 1921, in Altoona, Wilson County, Kansas. She was the youngest of seven children born to Peter Cooper Rutledge and Lillie May Samples Rutledge. The family moved around a lot, and she grew up in various places in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. She said she liked school, when she was able to attend, especially studying about foreign countries and diagraming sentences. In 1937, the family moved out to Metaline Falls, Washington, to find work and a better way of life. She had to quit school to help her mother and aunts run the boarding house in Metaline.

It was in Metaline that she met the love of her life, Cecil N. West. They married on August 6, 1938, in Metaline Falls, and were together nearly 65 years when Cecil passed in 2003. They began their family in Metaline Falls. Their first baby girl was stillborn. Later their son, Cecil Norman West, Jr. was born. They relocated to Spokane during World War II, and Cecil worked at Galena repairing sheet metal on Army Air Force planes. Their daughter, Carol, was born and Spokane, and the family made their permanent home there. Their son died in 1947 at the age of 5.

Ruby was a wonderful homemaker. She focused her love on her remaining child, Carol. Ruby was the very best mother a child could have had. She was involved in every aspect of Carol's life. She attended every event Carol ever participated in. She was a Brownie Girl Scout leader. Even today, many of her Brownies remember her fondly. She became involved in the PTA, and other community affairs. Ruby was the person neighbors called on when they needed help, because she knew what to do. And she always showed up with a cake to the home of anyone who died.

Ruby took instructions to join the Catholic Church and was baptized at Mary Queen Parish. Her husband followed her lead. That started a new chapter in their lives. Ruby was proud to have taught religious education and was involved in St. Monica's Guild. Cecil was a member of the Knights of Columbus. They were members of that parish until Cecil died and Ruby moved to her daughter's home.

After her daughter, Carol, married Edward L. Nettles, Jr., Ruby and Cecil had the opportunity to travel to the places where Carol and Ed lived including Hawaii, the Washington D.C. area, South Carolina, Mississippi, New Mexico, and various countries in Europe.

The most important thing in Ruby's life was her family, immediate and extended, especially her granddaughter, Laura. She was so proud of Laura and all her accomplishments and chosen path. Ruby had an excellent memory right up until the end for everyone's birthdays. She loved her family and friends and always told them so. In recent years talking to her friends and relatives was one of her greatest pleasures. Ruby had a long and growing prayer list, and she prayed daily for family and friends. She loved music, Christian, Country and the music of Lawrence Welk. Ruby loved jewelry and if you ever got separated from her in a store, you knew you could find her at the jewelry counter. She enjoyed reading, graduating from magazines to books and finally to books on tape, which provided her with hours of entertainment. She loved home cooking, especially really good fried chicken and the wing from the Thanksgiving turkey. Ruby followed Gonzaga men's basketball, and faithfully watched or listened to the games. She loved flowers and always said she wanted her flowers while she could enjoy them.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Lillie; her siblings, Walter, Lucy, Robert, Roberta, James and George; her husband, Cecil; their baby girl; their son, Norman; and her son-in-law, Edward L. Nettles, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Carol; and her granddaughter, Sr. Laura Nettles, FSPA, of La Crosse, Wisconsin. She also has some special nieces and nephews, and the "adopted grandkids," Kayla Francis, Jason and Mike Renner.

There will be a Memorial Service for Ruby on Thursday, June 18, 11:00 AM, at Hennessy Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division. Burial will be private.

We are grateful for the many years of loving care given to Ruby by Darcey Isbey, the caregivers from Care to Stay at Home, and Hospice of Spokane.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington Talking Books and Braille Library, in care of ALL Foundation of Washington, P.O. Box 40 222m Olympia, Washington 99504.