Alma Ruby Ruby Hutton

She was predeceased by her loving husband Melvin in June 1969, also 3 of her precious grand children Corey-Joe Hutton, Louann Hennings and Rick Dunbar, and special foster son Raymond “Hokey” Wolfe . Also predeceased by her parents Fred and Edna Hassard, siblings Muriel and Vince Clarke, Mary and Clarke Brandon, Bud and Edna Hassard, Freda and Walter Statham and Roger and Joyce Hassard. Hutton in-laws, Donald and Vida Hutton, Howard Hutton, Jean and Joe McCutcheon, and Dallas and Audrey Hutton her sister in law and best friend. She is survived by her children Lynda and Jim Dunbar, Murdy and Carole Hutton, Lane and Laurel Hutton, Clint and Dianne Hutton, Tammy and Dennis Gervais. Grand children, each so special to her, C.J. Dunbar, Vern Hennings, Chad Hutton, Yolanda Moore, Chet Hutton, Leah and Ryan May, Joel Hutton, Chris Hutton, Katie and Karl Bobicki, Jake Hutton (Tara Mahoney), Andrew and Jaymie Hutton, Liza Hutton, Sarah Hutton, Amy Gervais (Jeff Barrett) Jill and Jason Zyla, Lana Gervais (Adam Walliser), Great Grandchildren Asher and Callum Hutton, Nevaeh and Jenesis Hutton, Cassia and Tellana Hutton, Anora May, Mya-Ruby Bobicki, also foster sons Ian and Jeff

Ruby was born on a farm near Frobisher SK. She lived her life in a variety of places, Northgate, Alameda, Oxbow, Frobisher, Weyburn and Estevan. She was a farm wife, a mother, a sister and a friend to many. She married Melvin Hutton on Dec 23, 1943. They farmed in the Souris Valley near Northgate SK for 25 years. Their time together was cut short with Mel's death in 1969, leaving her a widow at 48, with 2 children still at home. In the coming years she tried her hand at a few careers, all involving helping others. She was a caring, creative mother to 5 children of her own, grandmother to 17 of the smartest grandchildren ever, and great grandmother to 9 of the cutest ever. She was a foster mother, group home mother, care aide, cook, baker, and her last career was opening her home to those living with mental illness. Ruby lived her life to the very fullest. Each day had endless possibilities. She loved to have family and friends sit around her kitchen table for food and fun. She was very creative at sewing, cooking, baking and she loved gardening and “digging in the dirt”. She loved her children and grandchildren so much and her friends were precious and many. Most of all Ruby loved her God with a giving spirit. She had faith to move mountains. She prayed and read her Bible daily. She is now walking and talking with Jesus, holding Mel's hand and meeting old friends in Heaven.

Thank you from all our family for coming to share our pain and our joy this day, as we remember a special lady.

As I look at all your faces, it proves Mom was naive to the number of lives she touched. She said a few times lately, as she watched her friends leave this earth, that “if I don't die soon, there will be no one left to come to my funeral”. I think she misjudged that. Our Mother was a colourful, usually opinionated, often witty, strong faith believing, short little Irish woman. She repeated often, the title to the song, May all that come behind us, find us Faithful. She truly meant that. Like all of us, at times, she forgot those words. However she loved her fellow men, and cared about their hurts. Those are strong words to live by. It doesn't say may some find us faithful, but all. So it implies it's not just the people you like, or go to church with or your family, but all those “other” people too. It's the people who may seem a little “off”, or the ones that may not be as loveable, even those people should find us “Faithful”. She was my Mother, so honestly, I know more about her than you do. She wasn't perfect, but who is. Did her children and grand children always agree with her? I know they are shaking their heads as I speak. She loved a good debate. She told us what she thought, but she loved us, even if we disagreed at times. She had high values, for all of us. As children, we had it drilled in to us, not to lie, to stand up for our beliefs, don't follow the “crowd” and look out for those less fortunate. Those are hard values to let slide. The grandchildren got the same lectures, and they couldn't deny their importance either. After all her strong values, came her deep devotion to a powerful God. She was a prayer warrior. She talked to God about everything. If you had a need, Ruby would pray. She remembered all her children and grandchildren regularly as she prayed for their lives, their mates and their faith in God. Many friends that we have had to call this week, to tell about her passing have replied with, “but who will pray for me now”? There is a Randy Travis song called “When Mama Prayed”. He says that you almost felt sorry for the devil, when Mama prays. I think the devil knew when Ruby started to pray, he was in trouble. So now what do we do? We step up to the plate and start talking to God. We found her Faithful, she set an example, so it is our job to continue the work.

As I wrote at the beginning of her history, Ruby was given her Eternal wings at 9:30 Easter Morning, just in time to slip in to the last pew for the Heavenly Easter Service. She would be so happy to have her voice back now, so she could sing the songs of praise. We all will miss her, but we are so happy for her Peace.

Now I'd like to share some of Ruby's history and life with you, we know it was long, so there is lots to tell, so do a little wiggle and get comfortable.

She was the youngest of 6 to a typical farm family with few resources, and she used to say she thought she was the last thing they needed, another mouth to feed. However she told many stories about her childhood, remembering her father as a very fine Christian example. She told of walking to school, with her close friends Ruth Moncrief and Audrey Middleton who later became her sister in law. To her last day she could recite poems and verses she learned from her school days. Being the youngest daughter, she may have had to work at getting attention sometimes. She told the story of being in the front row at the Sunday School Christmas Concert, and she was misbehaving, and her older sister Mary, a quiet, poised girl, was not impressed. She remembered clearly being told by her that she better behave or she would spank her right in front of everyone! As an adult, her oldest sister Muriel was still trying to make her behave. Her father was the family barber, as in so many families. She had a thick head of dark brown hair that seemed to fall best when cut in a little bowl cut. She said he actually put a bowl on her head and cut around it. As a young woman she worked as a telephone operator in the Alameda Telephone Office. There was probably some conversations, she listened to that she shouldn't have. It was probably good that she didn't ever learn computers, face book snooping would have been too tempting for her. In her mid twenties a tall horse back riding farmer/rancher from Northgate took interest in this little raven haired beauty. He was a man of few words, yet he wrote some witty love letters to her over their courtship. He loved her deeply. They were married on December 23, 1943. There first home was on top of a windy hill near Northgate SK, overlooking the Souris Valley. Mel's parents, Roy and Katie were close by, and Mel, forever the peacemaker, worked along with his Dad. In 1961, after Katie's death, they made the move from the hill down to the valley to live with Roy in his later years. He was known to be stubborn old Scots man, and Ruby told the story of him arguing with her that “if he couldn't take his money with him when he died, then he wasn't going”! They worked hard for 25 years and raised 5 children together. Many neighbours and friends spent happy Sunday afternoons visiting at the Huttons by the river. It was a beautiful oasis, and Ruby spent many hours gardening and growing flowers. She could make the best raised doughnuts ever, and make a meal out of very little. Life was busy, but life was good. The spring of 1969 changed her life suddenly, the river began to rise and the valley flooded. Mel worked so hard trying to save all that they had spent so long creating. The toll was too heavy and after the water levels went down, and the livestock moved back from the neighbours, Mel was taken from Ruby his family. He was the love of her life. A widow at 48, she carried on with 2 children still at home. Murdy, Clint and her tried to make the farm work without him, but it wasn't the same, ever. She decided then to try and turn her grief into caring for others. She took on the challenge of being a foster parent. Three boys came into her life, with various needs, and they learned the “love and direction” of Ruby. Later on she decided to try running a cafe in Alameda SK. She enjoyed the coffee row chatter and getting to know the people of Alameda better. After that, she was contacted to care for 5 handicapped children and care for them in a group home setting in Oxbow, SK. This was a special time in her life, and she loved them all. She followed that with a move to Weyburn SK. She tried her hand at being a care aide at Souris Valley Extended Care. She enjoyed the residents, and their families. Her next venture gave her the opportunity to open her home first with boarders then as a care home for those living with mental illness. She treated these people with respect and compassion. As always, she met more new friends. Ruby had a guest book at her house, that everyone was encouraged to sign, it became full, very quickly. She travelled on a few tours with many senior friends to Europe, Israel, Alaska and USA. This was no small feat, as she was totally scared to fly and she spent some of her first trip with her head in a paper bag. Her life changed again, with the loss of her 2 grandchildren, Louann and Rick within 4 years. She struggled with that grief as a caring grand mother. In 2001, she decided to roll that stone again, and moved back to Estevan, to live in Trinity Towers. This was another opportunity to meet more new people and renew old friendships. Her main reason for this move was to be closer to Lynda and her greenhouse. She made many trips in her little red car down to Lynda and Jim's to help with Lynda's flowers, garden and vegetables. She loved to get her hands in the dirt and “be on the business end of a spade” as she often said. She also went west with that little car to visit Clint and Dianne and kids. Clint even persuaded her to take a ride in a canoe down the Red Deer river. She made it to Saskatoon often also, to see Murdy and Carole. She wrote a memory of going with Murdy to deliver meals to the homeless, one cold morning, and how it touched her heart. She was always rooting for the underprivileged and needy in this world. Lane and Laurel were further west, and the little car wouldn't make it through the mountains, especially with Ruby at the wheel! She enjoyed a couple trips with the East family out to visit them. Dennis and Tammy were straight across the park when she lived in Weyburn; their girls spent many happy times with Grandma. In 2004, her life took another curve, when she suffered a stroke. Ever the stubborn little Irish woman though, with her families help and compassion of many caregivers, she put her nose to the ground and worked to gain back her strength physically and emotionally. This led to her move to Creighton Lodge in Estevan, and as always more new friends! She was involved in the Alliance Church there, and enjoyed their fellowship. In November 2006, Ruby suffered a cerebral aneurysm. She spent time in Estevan, Regina and Calgary hospitals, throughout the whole ordeal of over 3 months. There were numerous times God could have taken her home as she was treated, but He chose to keep her with us. He still had work for her to do. Her recovery was a Miracle. Again, with many caregivers help and love, she persevered and managed to gain most of her physical strength, and as she said “I have most of my marbles”. A move back to Weyburn was her choice, to Weyburn Special Care Home. I don't need to add, that again, she made more new friends. Those special care aides shared more with Ruby in the confines of her room, than she needed to hear. She enjoyed their humour and care, and at the end of the day, there was a prayer said for them. She did qualify to be in a care home. She was a senior citizen, and she was physically handicapped, but she never really acted or thought like an old person. She tried to keep her mind active, eating her blueberries, faithfully everyday. She could remember nieces and nephews birthdays to the end of her life. She read many library books, and her Bible was always open on her end table. The news was watched daily, and some of you may have found out that she wasn't too talkative, if you phoned when the Waltons were on in the afternoon. She kept up on all the family news, with her trusty dialling finger; her phone was her life line. She could manage without power or water, but don't disconnect her phone!

In the last couple years, she struggled more with her everyday limitations. She voiced that she wondered why she was still here. Losing her close friends was extra hard. When Aunt Audrey passed away, she said her best friend was gone. She said she sometimes forgot Aunt Audrey was gone and would think she should phone her and tell her some funny story they would laugh about. God must have seen her getting tired, and decided to finally make a spot for her in his Heavenly home. We know that our Dad, her love she has missed everyday for 44 years, was there to take her hand.

Donations may be made in memory of Ruby to the Gideons or L’Arche Foundation of Canada #300– 10271 Young St Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B5 or the Morning Star Christian Academy 3540 6th Ave Regina, SK S4T 0N5.