Ruby Savage

Ruby Savage, 92, passed away in her home in McKinleyville, Calif., as she had wanted, on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010.

Ruby is survived by her son, Dwight, and his wife, Jo Ann, and her niece, Martha "Toppy" Quall, whom she loved very much.

Ruby was an avid gardener who enjoyed growing vegetables to share with the community. She was a lover of cats and animals and couldn't resist taking care of any who strayed into her yard. She did this to the extent of making sure they were spayed or neutered and nursed to health if they became sick. She was a mother to all the children in the neighborhood when her children were young, and she was a Cub Scout den mother for several years. She always had "goodies" available fresh from her home oven. In her leisure hours, she did crossword puzzles, read books and did paintings and many forms of needlecraft.

The daughter of Norwegian immigrants, Ruby was born and raised on the plains of northern Montana near the town of Gildford. She was willing to share her stores of life there to anyone who would listen. One, in particular, was the story of her and her dog. She had a perilous journey to school one day when she had almost been attacked by coyotes. But her dog, who walked with her every day on the long journey to school and then came back to school to take her home at the end of the day, protected her. While her life had been hard, she never complained and felt proud of her heritage.

Ruby left Montana and moved to Washington state to live with her sister, and finished high school, at Stanwood High School. This is where she met her future husband, Frank Savage.

During World War II, Ruby worked for the Great Northern Railroad in Havre, Mont.

Toward the end of the war, Ruby and Frank were married in Great Falls, Mont. After they were married, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she gave birth to her two sons Dwight and David.

In 1951, Frank's work brought Ruby and the family to McKinleyville, Calif., where she found a home and remained until her passing.

In McKinleyville, Ruby worked as a foreman on one of the major bulb farms. During her time there she made many friends, and these friendships carried on over into her retirement years. She met with her friends weekly, where they would joke, chat, go to lunch, have coffee, reminisce about old times, and generally have a great time. These were some of the happiest days of Ruby' s later years.

Ruby was a wonderful, strong woman, so full of life — a life that will be missed by all who loved her.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 3, at 3:30 p. m. at Paul's Chapel in Arcata to celebrate Ruby's life. The family welcomes all who knew and loved Ruby to join us in this celebration.

The family requests that donations be made to Sequoia Humane Society in lieu of flowers.

Ruby Savage, 92, passed away in her home in McKinleyville, Calif., as she had wanted, on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010.

Ruby is survived by her son, Dwight, and his wife, Jo Ann, and her niece, Martha "Toppy" Quall, whom she loved very much.

Ruby was an avid gardener who enjoyed growing vegetables to share with the community. She was a lover of cats and animals and couldn't resist taking care of any who strayed into her yard. She did this to the extent of making sure they were spayed or neutered and nursed to health if they became sick. She was a mother to all the children in the neighborhood when her children were young, and she was a Cub Scout den mother for several years. She always had "goodies" available fresh from her home oven. In her leisure hours, she did crossword puzzles, read books and did paintings and many forms of needlecraft.

The daughter of Norwegian immigrants, Ruby was born and raised on the plains of northern Montana near the town of Gildford. She was willing to share her stores of life there to anyone who would listen. One, in particular, was the story of her and her dog. She had a perilous journey to school one day when she had almost been attacked by coyotes. But her dog, who walked with her every day on the long journey to school and then came back to school to take her home at the end of the day, protected her. While her life had been hard, she never complained and felt proud of her heritage.

Ruby left Montana and moved to Washington state to live with her sister, and finished high school, at Stanwood High School. This is where she met her future husband, Frank Savage.

During World War II, Ruby worked for the Great Northern Railroad in Havre, Mont.

Toward the end of the war, Ruby and Frank were married in Great Falls, Mont. After they were married, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she gave birth to her two sons Dwight and David.

In 1951, Frank's work brought Ruby and the family to McKinleyville, Calif., where she found a home and remained until her passing.

In McKinleyville, Ruby worked as a foreman on one of the major bulb farms. During her time there she made many friends, and these friendships carried on over into her retirement years. She met with her friends weekly, where they would joke, chat, go to lunch, have coffee, reminisce about old times, and generally have a great time. These were some of the happiest days of Ruby' s later years.

Ruby was a wonderful, strong woman, so full of life — a life that will be missed by all who loved her.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 3, at 3:30 p. m. at Paul's Chapel in Arcata to celebrate Ruby's life. The family welcomes all who knew and loved Ruby to join us in this celebration.

The family requests that donations be made to Sequoia Humane Society in lieu of flowers.