Ruth, born on May 8, 1941 in Fort Scott, Kansas, daughter of the late Jerome Hayes and Marjorie Crays Hayes lived on a farm with her four siblings and attended Fulton High School, Class of 1958. Ruth is survived by her beloved partner Gray Clark of Tulalip, Washington, her son James Michael Hill and wife Deborah of Garden Grove, California, her daughter Karen Renee Fitzpatrick of Kenmore, Washington; her grandchildren D. Bryce Harris and wife Julie of North Bend, Washington, Heather Brianna-Hill Ipjian and husband Jeffrey of Garden Grove, California, Jeremy Matthew Hill of Garden Grove, California, and Nathan Daniel Fitzpatrick of Kenmore, Washington; her siblings Donald Hayes and wife Ruby of Fort Scott, Kansas, Lois Voeller and husband Al of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Alf Hayes and wife Maggie of Fort Collins, Colorado and Joan Savage of Ottawa, Kansas; all of her many nieces and nephews that she invested special times with and thought so highly of.
Ruth enjoyed so much spending time with Gray’s family at the cabin on Vancouver Island, at Holidy gatherings, and at the annual family retreat over the week of fourth of July, usually in Eastern Washington. She spoke often of Brad and Shari Clark and children Andrew (wife Melanie), Lyndsey and Eryn; Bruce and Shelly Stock and daughters Allie, Cora and Ellis; Dawn Clark-Plowman; Jill Clark and son Eli Heinz; and Steve and Krista Clark and children Mercer, Halle and Kemper.
Ruth exemplified the women of her generation, achieving significant success. She rose from a clerical role to the Director of Workforce Administration of the Boeing Commercial Aircraft Human Resources team during her 25 years of successful service with the Boeing Company. At the same time, she was a wonderful, loving, and beloved mother of two children. Well known for her “personal strength” and “grace”, Ruth was a strong female role model for her professional peers, friends and family. Ruth was also fun loving, enjoying her shared cabin on the western coast of Vancouver Island, salmon fishing, gourmet cooking and mostly just spending time with her soul mate Gray Clark. Her greatest joy was sharing her home with family and friends for holiday and family gatherings. She infused love of life and love of family in everyone she met. Her love overflowed her body to splash on all the people lucky enough to be in her vicinity. Everyone loved her smile, and enjoyed her engaging sense of humor. Ruth was an avid lover of art in many forms; she loved to decorate and brought beauty and warmth wherever she went. Ruth was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild, Matthew Robert Harris, later this March and the high school graduation of her youngest grandson, Nathan, in June.
A memorial service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at Purdy & Walters chapel at Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood, Washington on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers Ruth has requested donations to be made in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Cancer Research.
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