Ruth B Smalley

Ruth Evelyn Britton Smalley was born February 24, 1921 in Palestine, TX to Edward L Britton and Mary E Bentley. She passed away in The Woodlands on September 28, 2019 at the age of 98. Her burial service has not been determined.

Ruth grew up in Marshall, TX and graduated from Marshall High School in 1938. She attended Texas Women’s University (known as the Texas State College for Women) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts, in 1942. Knowing she didn’t want to teach school she went to work for Humble oil and Refinery (now known as “Exxon/Mobile” as a draftsman in Corpus Christi, TX during World War II. During her time in Corpus Christi she met her husband, Arthur L Smalley Jr. and they were married March 18, 1946. Being in the oil business, she and her husband moved around a lot which offered different experiences to develop her art knowledge.

Ruth lived in Pampa, TX and was a Charter Member of the Junior Service league of Pampa. The Amarillo Arts Foundation fed her interest in sculpture, painting and jewelry making. Her family moved to Holland for four years (1964 through 1968) and she attended art school and visited museums almost every day. Returning to Texas to live in Houston she continued her art studies at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts School. She acquired an interest in quilt making while running her husband’s office 1973-1983. She continued her interest in contemporary and traditional quilting making her first award winning quilt (Fragmentary Rhythms) at the Quilt National Show in 1993.

She is survived by Arthur L Smalley III, son, The Woodlands, TX; Tom E. Smalley, son, Waxahachie, TX, Nancy Tuttle Smalley, Daughter-in-law, Waxahachie, TX; Joan Smalley, daughter-in-law, Willis, TX; Jane Britton Smalley, granddaughter, Waxahachie, TX; Sarah Smalley Lawrence, granddaughter, and her husband, Nicholas S Lawrence, Waxahachie, TX; Alex Smalley, grandson and his wife, Shelby Smalley, The Woodlands, TX; Johanna Smalley Todd, granddaughter and her husband Kirt Todd, Willis, TX; Mark Smalley, grandson, The Woodlands, TX; Elizabeth Smalley, granddaughter, Denver, CO; Nathan S Lawrence, great grandson, and Jackson B Lawrence, great grandson,