Ruth McKay

Ruth Stoll McKay, 93, a 53 year resident of Laramie, Wyoming, passed away on July 16, 2015 in Loveland, Colorado. She was born on St Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1922 in Page, North Dakota to Carl Stoll and Lillian Lentz Stoll. She loved that her birthday was a day of fun, laughter and celebration. During the 1930’s she spent eight years living with her aunt and uncle, Clara and Henry Mohr who she called ‘Ma and Pa Mohr.’ Ruth attended Valley City State Teacher’s College where she met the love of her life, Everett “Ike” McKay. On July 1, 1943 they were married in Chicago, Illinois and recently celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. Ruth and Ike were always together.

In 1955 the family moved from their hometown of Valley City, North Dakota to Manderson and Hyattville, Wyoming where she taught school. She is still in contact with several of her former students and often has been told that she was their favorite teacher. When they moved to Laramie in 1961 Ruth took a position at the University of Wyoming in the Adult Education Department where she worked until her retirement in 1982.

In 1983 Ruth and Ike began wintering in Tucson, AZ and continued to do so until 2005. She loved Tucson’s warm winter and active lifestyle but always looked forward to her return to Laramie to enjoy the beautiful summers, her home and her many friends. Ruth and Ike traveled extensively throughout the US, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. She enjoyed walking for exercise (in fact participated in the Bolder Boulder 10K Road Race into her 80’s), serving Meals on Wheels, picnicking in the Snowy Range, singing with the Melodees at the Epson Center, and sharing her love of life with her family. Ruth and Ike were an elegant couple on the dance floor. Her vibrant personality and beautiful smile lit up a room and her caring nature was known wherever she went. Ruth said she believed that she was ‘put on this earth to make people happy.’ She did. She and Ike moved to Longmont, Colorado from Laramie in 2014.

Ruth was an active member of Chapter AX of PEO, a 50 year member of Chi Omega fraternity, and a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Laramie serving on many committees, volunteering as needed, and sharing her many talents. She was creative and artistic, producing several paintings along with many handwork articles. Consider yourself lucky if you received a loaf of her famous Christmas bread!

Ruth was greatly loved and is already missed by her many friends and relatives including her husband, Everett “Ike” McKay, daughters Colleen Eastman (George “Jug”) of Brighton, Colorado, Ryn Hahn (Robert) of Plattsmouth, Nebraska and Stephanie McKay of Longmont, Colorado. She is further survived by 4 grandchildren, Kevin Eastman (Sandi), Amy Mills (Alan), Tim Hahn (Michaela) and Brendt Hahn (Amber); 7 great grandchildren, Amber, Alana, Amara, Gwynn, Maelle, Neva, and Bram; her brother Darrell Stoll of Montana, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents, brothers Calvin, Billy and Kenneth Stoll and sisters Louisa Woodard and Phyllis Halverson.

A Celebration of Ruth’s Life will be held on Friday, August 28, 2015 at 3:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Laramie, with a reception to follow. Donations may be made to the capital building fund of the First United Methodist Church, Laramie, Wyoming, her church home for more than 50 years.

Condolences for Ike and family can be sent to Stephanie McKay, 807 Gay Street, Longmont, CO 80601.

Cremation has been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services.