Ruby Fern Moody

Ruby Johnson was born on June 26, 1920 in Marshall, MN. Her parents, Joe and Bertha Johnson, both immigrated from Iceland and via Canada came to the USA. Like many Viking immigrants they took other names once they came to America. Joe was Johann Torlakson and Bertha’s family name was Holm. Ruby was a twin and the youngest of six children. Her twin sister Ruth died at age 11. Her two other brothers and sisters lived well into their late 80’s and 90’s and lived in MN and FL.

Ruby grew up during the Depression in a small farming community. The advent of WWII saw Ruby moving to Rochester, MN where she worked at the Mayo Clinic. It was there that she was introduced to dental work and met her husband, Henry “Hank” Moody. They married in KS where they lived the first months of their life together. Hank was an Army Airman preparing to be a part of the Normandy invasion. An illness kept him in the US and led to several years of surgery and recovery. Ruby and Hank moved to Seattle to be with his parents and get the health care that saved his life. After several years in Seattle, they moved to Burien where they bought their first home. They later moved to Kent, WA where they lived until retirement. During the retirement years, winters were spent in AZ for several years, but home was always WA. After Hank passed away, Ruby finally found her home at Stafford Suites where she lived for 12 years. For a short time she lived at Expressions Care Home in Enumclaw.

The family is deeply grateful for the care, love and constant embrace of the staff at those two homes. There are not enough superlatives to acknowledge their care for our mother and grandmother.

Ruby had four children. John is married to Melody. William “Bill” is married to Judy. Marilyn is married to Pat Murphy. Ruth, now deceased, was married to Ken Heinle. Ruby had eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren who were the love of her life.

Ruby was an energetic, hard working person who retired in her late 60’s after working more than twenty years for Drs. Rugg. She was always deeply involved in her family. She loved to laugh, cook pies, celebrate events, get pink roses and have everyone together. She welcomed spouses, friends, everyone into her family. The family recently listed 100 plus unique things about Ruby for the care unit in which she was living. It was clear she was well loved and remembered for her care, support and love of those she knew.

Ruby died on February 29, 2016 at the age of 95. She was with her children when she quietly left this world. As she came to the end of her life she was comforted by the knowledge she would join her sister, daughter, granddaughter and husband in the new life promised to us by God.