ForeverMissed
Large image
Her Life
June 15, 2015

Ruth was born April 9, 1927 in Burnsville.  Her mother died when she was 8 months old.  Her grandparent’s adopted her.  She had a simple childhood.  She had to drop out of school to work on the family farm.  God blessed her with 3 children a son nicknamed Snook, and 2 daughters Marty and Shirley. The family moved to Asheville in the 60’s. She worked hard to take care of her family.  She worked nearly every day as a presser at Swannanoa Cleaners to provide for her family.  On Sundays they would take a drive the Ole home place in Burnsville to visit with her family.  Ruth never had her driver’s license, so Snook would always drive. As her children grew up, God blessed her with 10 grandchildren-Lee, Lynn, Tommy, Missy, Kevin, Eddie Dean, Ashley, Jason, Leo, and Nigel.  She was also blessed to have 17 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson.  In her spare time she loved to go downtown to the Rummage sales with her daughter Shirley.  They also loved to go to the drive in by Beaver Lake, she would get a BBQ sandwich and they’d go to the lake and eat while watching the ducks.  She loved to have dinner with Marty and her family. She loved all her grandchildren.  Her grandson’s Tommy and Leo have fond memories of Mammy checking them for ticks. Eddie Dean’s favorite memory with his mammy was when he was 12 and would spend the weekend with her and they would have snuff spitting contest on the balcony of her apartment on Montford Avenue.  They would see whose hit the ground first.  Her other grandchildren have fond memories of Mammy’s love of good country cooking- pinto beans, fried taters, cornbread and buttermilk and her dipping snuff.  She also loved all animals, which was apparent when she has 17 cats while living on Montford Ave.  She helped raise Tommy and Lynn.  Sadly when her son Snook was only 50, he died of a massive heart attack.  She was heartbroken.  In the early 90’s she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She underwent a mastectomy, radiation treatments and survived.  While working at the dry cleaners a press fell on her arm and severely burned her.  She overcame that and went back to work.   Once she retired she enjoyed the simple things in life especially time with her family.   Sadly, in September of 2007 she received the news that her daughter Marty had passed away from complications from breast cancer.  Again she was devastated.  During this time she was living at Shadybrook Assisted living in Black Mountain.  She was the eldest resident at the facility.  All the other residents loved Ms. Ruthie.  Steven, a mentally handicap man in his 40’s would always come to her door and knock and ask Ms. Ruthie you got any money?  She would go in her sock where she always kept her money hid and give him a couple dollars so he could get him a pack of cigarettes.  That’s just the woman she was, she always put others before herself.  Violet also lived at the facility they were next door neighbor they shared a bathroom.  Ruth loved Violet; she would come and read to her every night.  In April of 2008 right before her 81st birthday she was diagnosed with uterine cancer.  She fought hard again and survived.  In April 2009 she met Shirley’s partner Nicole for the first time.  She welcomed her with open arms.  She loved her like a daughter. Later that month she moved in with Shirley, Nicole, and Nigel.  One evening Nigel brought her a kitten he’d found at his father’s house.  She called her precious.  She’d let her eat out of her plate.  Precious later became named Pookie.  Her grandson Eddie Dean needed a place to stay for a few days.  The house was small and we didn’t really know where he’d sleep.  Eddie Dean said I’m sleeping right here beside Mammy.  He loved her so much and she him.  She later decided she wanted to go back to Shadybrook.  She loved all the extra attention the nurses and other residents gave her.  She was the queen of assisted living.  In later 2009, she was given a kitten named Nikki.  The facility agreed to let her have him for pet therapy.  Her doctor Paula made sure he was fixed and had his shots.  She was convinced when he meowed he was calling her mama.  In March 2011, she took a hard fall and was hospitalized for a week.  She was so weak she could no longer walk with her cane.  She then went to live at The Oaks at Sweeten Creek.  She preserved with the help of the rehab team, and was able to start walking with a walker.  God blessed her with a wonderful roommate at the Oaks named Shirley.  Ruth referred her as mama.  She took great care of her roommate always making sure her flowers were watered, helping her change the sheets on her bed.  Shirley often said she didn’t know what she would do without Ruth.  Shirley always looked out for Ruth as well.   Anytime we would leave her room after visiting, she’d always ask “do you have cigarettes, do the cats have food, do I have anything you want or need, make sure all the doors and windows are locked, and don’t open your doors for anybody.”  That is the woman she was.  She was always a caring and giving woman.  She loved going to J&S with Nicole and Shirley.  She loved good ole country cooking.  In mid-2012 she met 2 incredibly kind ladies names Brenda and Bette from Mt Gilead Baptist.  She looked forward to their visits, cards of encouragement and prayers. In September 2012, her health started to decline.  She was not a complainer.  She never wanted to be a burden to anyone.   She had a great Thanksgiving and ate really well.  She had a wonderful Christmas; she had a great visit with her granddaughter Lynn and Rick.  She also enjoyed her visit with her great granddaughter Savanna, baby sister Iliza and their mom, Amanda.  She came to our house Christmas day.  She enjoyed watching the Macy’s day parade while playing with her kitties.  She loved all her presents and Christmas dinner. In January 2013 she had skin cancer removed from her face.  She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March 2013.  When she received the news she just had a defeated and sad look on her face.  This time there was nothing to be done.  She still didn’t complain.  She took the news with grace accepting God was preparing to call her home.  On her 86th birthday she was surprised with a party, she was very excited to see her great granddaughter Savanna, Iliza, Amanda, her Doctor Paula from Shady brook, Tootsie, Rick, her roommate Shirley, and two special ladies that worked at Oaks, Barbara and Angie.  She had a smile that could light up the dimmest room.  That is the smile she had that day. Angie would go and sit with her and talk about cats.  Angie loves cats too.  Barbara and Kathy would bring her cornbread so she would eat.  She loved cornbread and buttermilk.  On April 30, she came to live with her daughter Shirley and Nicole.  Her nurse Joe and several staff members cried when she left The Oaks.  She was such a blessing to be around. She was surrounded by love from Shirley, Nicole, and her grandson Nigel, lots of cats and puddles.  She wasn’t able to get around very good anymore, but still wanted to wash dishes, feed the cats, and help keep the house clean.  She enjoyed the visit from her granddaughter Missy and her mom Tricia.  We took lots of pictures.  She enjoyed seeing her great grandchildren Savanna, Makel, Nevel, Nekel, and Quilian.  She enjoyed her favorite foods on Mother’s Day and beautiful flowers.  God blessed her with a wonderful hospice home care team.  She loved Jenni and Beth very much.  Even at her weakest, she would give them her signature smile and try to say I love you.  Near the end she was confused, she would call Nicole- Tricia or Ashley.  She would call out for Eddie, her daughter Marty and son Snook, she thought Makel was Leo.  One night when Shirley and Nicole where putting her to bed, Nicole asked her do you know who I am?  She replied yeah your Tricia.  Shirley then asked do you know who I am.  She replied yes, you’re Shirley Margaret my baby.  That gave Shirley such comfort.   Shirley had to have emergency surgery on Memorial Day.  Ruth went to the Elizabeth House while she recovered.  Her roommate from the Oaks Shirley and daughter Tootsie went to visit it her.  They said she looked so pretty sitting in the sun with rosy cheeks.  On the Saturday June 1st when she came home she looked beautiful with her hair French braided.  Ruth didn’t eat meat anymore.  But that night she ate chicken casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, a yogurt, and apple sauce.  This was amazing because she had lost her appetite.  On Sunday she enjoyed some leftovers and a good dip of snuff.  The next day after her shower she was very weak and wanted to go back to bed.  After that day, she never got back out of bed.  Shirley never left her mama’s side.  She loves her mama so much.  Shirley’s cat Stewie was always in her room watching over her.  He’d leave only for a few minutes and be back at his post watching.    On the Thursday before she passed, Nicole told her was a fighter and tough as nails.  She laughed.  But no few words could be truer of this amazing woman; she fought to her last breath.   No matter what trials or tribulations went through she always faced it with her feet planted firmly in her faith and love of God.

 She is going to be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.  Heaven has received a precious angel with a head of beautiful gray hair.