Ann L Ruffcorn

Ann Lee Ruffcorn of Tumwater passed away peacefully the early morning of Friday June 23, 2017. She was born April 1, 1925, in Perryton, Texas to Samuel Edward and Mary Elizabeth Rushing. Her mother and father both died at an early age, and she was sent to live with her aunt, Birtle Chamberlain Simmons. She grew up living on the Chamberlain Chehalis River farm in the Boistfort Valley. Over the years she shared many stories of happy times on the farm, playing on the river bank, spending time with all of the farm animals, and riding her bicycle.

She graduated from Boistfort High School in 1943, and eventually moved to Seattle where she attended Seattle Pacific College, and then went on to graduate from Swedish Hospital School of Nursing.

She married Neale W. Thomas on December 21, 1949, who she had known many years growing up. He died in November 1984. She loved ballroom dancing, and met Wayne Ruffcorn at the Evergreen Ballroom at a dance. They later married on November 5, 1988, and he died in July 2009.

Besides ballroom dancing, Ann loved playing the piano, writing poetry, reading, knitting, doing counted cross-stitch, swimming, and playing Scrabble. She had an adventurous spirit and loved to add things to her list of "firsts": Roller skating, traveling to new places, horseback riding lessons, and eventually even went on to have a horse of her own. She always had a smile for friends and strangers alike. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by a daughter, Sherri A. Thomas of Eatonville, WA, a son Keith N. Thomas of Lacey, WA, a grandson, Zachery Thomas, 2 step-grandchildren David Inocencio, and Leanna Inocencio, and two great grandsons, Kolby and Devin Thomas.