Book of Memories for Ruth Marguerite Smith

Story shared: Best Friend

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 14:46:26 EDT

I am Jessica Joy Ruth's Grandaughter, Jetta's Oldest.

I would love to speak at her memorial, however it's too hard to hold it together to express all that she was....

As a child she created an atmoshphere for all to join together as her large family thanksgivings to bringing anyone off the street or someone she met and wanted to connect with. she always would give give give,clothes, food, and her unconditional Love

Memories of all my cousins are forever dear to me, and it's her home where we would gather, to sing, throw a football, chase each other through the neighborhood. Cousins would rent movies and be up most of the night, in the downstairs room which was the TV room for my childhood. The early morning gatherings were in the kitchen where coffee, food, and family sharing deep converstaions or goofing off was the place to be. The older cousins were sleeping in the attic till near lunch time.

The candy store was where any of us could escape like on a secret mission....safe to walk to the store in the small town where we could roam without worry

The Humdinger where the older cousins would go in their cars and get burgers and ice cream!

Thanksgiving dinner was where we shared the things we were grateful for.... and as the weekend would end family photos,in the living room or on the front porch were successfully taken. Grama Ruth Loved everyone being all together in harmony.

It was when my parents divorced that everything started to dwindle apart....a catalyst to honesty the truth and what was really going on that we all started learning from her....she was learning too, she wasn't always perfect she used to tell me that we all have imperfections that we need to learn and grow from, and that was her mission for herself and the advice which she shared gently to each of us.

Grama Ruth had come to stay with us to help mom for a little while and that is when I learned about God and his unconditional love for us. We would talk for hours that turned into a whole day, Thats when I visited The Living Word Fellowship. I felt I found home in the Lord that was personal and just between me and God.

I really found a close connection with her when I would drive up to see her, we would shop at all the favorite stores and talk and talk about her life of abandonment, adoption, families that raised her, the marriage to Warner....whom she learned to Love and forgive after his death. she taught me to "learn to love imperfect people perfectly"

In the early hour of 3:00 A.M. I would find her listening to a sermon, or journaling, in these early hours we would cuddle in her bed and watch a movie and she sweetly would hold my hand, her hands were so soft and loving, and one day we discovered that our hands nearly match in size and shape. Journaling was her most recomended place to vent, dream, and create. I started journaling in my freshmen year of high school. I found a place to express my heart. she told me to journal what I'm Grateful for. Journaling became apart of my everyday life, as it was for her also.

She started a singing group to save the Hoquiam pool, which began a beautiful foundation for seniors to connect and sing songs from their favorite love songs to Christmas carols. Often on my visits we'd go to the group and sing together and also visit the pool for her regular exercise. We'd come home for a meal and that's where all the health education would start. I learned so much from her about health, Even though she still struggled with eating it was her desire to be healthy, And in the last 9-10 yrs with help from family and close friends she accomplished her wish to die in her own home healthy as possible and with family by her side.

When I went through my marriage and divorce she was the only true support I could count on she got me through some of the most horrible nightmares a person could endure. Without her I could not have made it!

I will never forget when the change began for her, she started not being able to safely drive. And she sat me down in that kitchen full of memories at her table and she shared with me that she knew things were going to become more difficult and she wanted me to know how important I was to her and how our closeness meant so much to her. These are the statements whcih are from her heart.

Please forgive me and one another, we're all imperfect

Wth Honesty comes love and oneness

God is of Power love and a sound mind -Bible

Take authority over the futility (negativity) of your mind

Love with God's love when you can't love someone with your own love

Grama Ruth, Thank you for all that you brought into my life, and teaching me how to express feelings, admit faults, ask for forgiveness and forgive, thank you for teaching me how to focus on the good. Thank you for loving me like no one else in this world ever has. Your my True Hero! I will be writing to you and looking forward to seeing you in spirit, throughout the rest of the lessons to learn. I Love you, I love you, I love you

Jessica Joy Fife

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Mon, 24 Apr 2017 12:47:59 EDT

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Mon, 24 Apr 2017 12:46:32 EDT

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Condolence From Fred & Reenie LeVering

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 18:29:00 EDT

Our hearts go out to all of you for the loss of your Mother and Grandmother Ruth. She was a wonderful woman.

Condolence From Gerry Amato

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 17:36:21 EDT

My heart goes out to all the family of Ruth Smith. The short time that I got to know her was a blessing. She was a beautiful woman with a tremendous amount of wisdom. I learned a lot about life from her and that knowledge I will always treasure and carry with me forever. With my sincere sympathy, Gerry Amato

Condolence From Jim & Pat Buxton

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 23:07:08 EDT

We so love & loved Ruth for how she held her family & friends so near & dear. We knew Ruth through our church in Yakima and Lake Oswego. She was always speaking with such love about her children and grandchildren. Ruth was everone's mother and I don't believe we ever heard one discouraging report ever come past her lips. You could always count on Ruth's perspective being strong and full of faith. She was a worshiper of God, a naturally musical gift of God. She knew how to draw on the presence of God in both prayer and in worship and was thus a ministry of healing in His temple. I am sure many a life were saved just through Ruth's faith and love represented in her smile and twinkle in her eyes. We are so blessed by God to have been in Ruth's life,...accounted for by Ruth herself as one of her own. She made us feel like We were one of her own....and that "feel of her love" will never depart from us. It was God's kind intent to have us experience His all encompassing Love through such an awesome Mother as Ruth. Thank you Father for enriching our lives so deeply through the joy and love we received through your humble servant.

Condolence From Mo and Margaret Bahraini

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 19:03:42 EDT

Our deepest condolences to You Jetta and your family, your Mother was a truly amazing person even though I only got to know her for the last few months of her life, she truly touched my heart in so many ways, Our hearts and prayers go out to you all. Your precious angel now shines over each and everyone of you.

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Thu, 20 Apr 2017 01:05:32 EDT