Ruth Ann Crider

Ruth Ann Crider, 80 years of age and of Manchaca, Texas, passed away peacefully late afternoon Wednesday, March 31st, 2021. She was surrounded by a small group of loved ones, with an army of family and friends praying for her from near and afar.

Ruth was born to Albert and Dorothy Nixon in Richford, New York on March 10th, 1941 and was one of seven siblings. She moved to Austin, Texas in 1968, where she met the man who would become her husband of 47 years - the late Alfred Crider, Jr. She was a proud mother to eight children – daughter Korrina Jumper Mohle (Terry and the late Doug Jumper), son Steven Harris, daughter Rosa Hellman (David), Bonnie Sikes (Jon), Kelly Goss (David), Kim Stewart (Tim), Kevin “Tiger” Harris (Katrina), and Ronnie Harris - and three children by marriage – Mark Crider (Mary Jo), Martha Howard-Griffith (Gary) and the late Louis Crider. She became the matriarch of her family, with 22 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

As one may expect, family was everything for Ruth. She was everything to them as well. As a special tribute to the family’s matriarch, several family members wanted to share a favorite memory or trait of Ruth Crider:

- “I have two things that I always think of when I think of mom: 1) The numerous times we played phase 10 with mom and Alfred. So “Skip mom!” I’ll be ready to skip her again when we meet in heaven. 2) She would only eat fresh bread. She would not even eat it if it was one day old. Picky, picky!” – Daughter Rosa Hellman

- “We lived around the block from mom for 17 years. Every Friday night we played 42 and mom was my partner. I’m sure the log of the winners is still in her China cabinet. She loved playing games but she was not good at Pictionary! Thank you mom for making me who I am. And mom - I’m better at 42 than Terry so you and I would still be the better team! Also, she hated wearing socks and shoes. I’m willing to bet that when you saw her it was without shoes!” – Daughter Korrina Jumper Mohle

- “Where’s the spaghetti”? – Son in law David Hellman

- “Mom was the Queen of all Moms!! Mom was THE MOM.” – Daughter Kim Stewart

- “The ‘house of kids’ was on her doorbell for years.” – Son Steven Harris

- “Mom and I had our twice a day chats for many years and our favorite sayings before we hung up “yup! (Alfred’s favorite word to use. We kept it going) Love you, and chat with you tomorrow!” I will always treasure these phone calls!” – Daughter Kelly Goss

- “All meals were served as a family. Mom loved shopping for plants even though she had plenty. She missed her husband so much that she went and visited his grave twice a day every day without fail.” – Daughter Bonnie Sikes

- “Favorite memory with grandma was sitting on the patio drinking coffee on rainy days.” – Grandson Patrik Hellman

- “I loved goofing around and laughing with her – like the time we laughed hysterically because she made a pot of coffee but forgot to put the coffee pot under the drip!” – Granddaughter Sabrina Jordan

- “She always sat on the front porch watching the world go and was so happy it wasn't her going by....” – Daughter in law Katrina Harris

- “Sitting on the porch, joking how busy her street was.” – Granddaughter Kayla Chavez

- “I miss her pretending to be sleeping on the front porch and listening to everyone’s conversation.” – Granddaughter Justine Hudgeons

- “She is the only person that can make me smile in front of a camera with four words – ‘kiss the damn tree’.” – Grandson Chris Sikes

- “Thanks for naming our favorite dog! Izzy Izzy Izzy” – Son in law David Goss

- “My favorite memory of mom was when they had all kids in the living room watching Salems Lot and Mom screamed loudly on purpose to make everyone’s popcorn fly.” – Son Ronnie Harris

- “I flung butter at her once while we were in the Tower of the Americas, making her feel like a kid in a food fight. She was very amused. And yes, I won.” – Grandson Matthew Hellman

- “She was my second Mom, never just daddy’s wife, miss her so much. ” – Step-daughter Martha Howard-Griffith

- “She was my shopping buddy! She would literally get mad if I went to Walmart without her haha” – Granddaughter Dorothy Aguilar

- “I guess my fondest memory of mom was that I was able to get her ice cream before she went to bed every night, and every morning I would get up and make her coffee and leave her a note telling her to have a good day and that I love her, and she looked forward to getting those notes everyday.” – Son Kevin “Tiger” Harris

Ruth’s favorite places were her front porch, Alfred’s gravesite and Walmart. While her family will miss her terribly, they are comforted to know she’s now in a rocking chair next to Alfred on heaven’s front porch. And maybe there’s a Walmart in heaven too.