Ruby Neilson Bates Thorne

She born December 23, 1916 at Annabella, Utah, the daughter of James Henry Neilson and Lillis Louisa Davis, her mother had separated from her father before she was born and they lived with her grandparents whom she adored. Her mother later remarried and died in childbirth. At age 11 she and her older sister Jessie were sent to live with their father in Murtaugh who at the time was an alcoholic. They had a rough life and worked very hard. Ruby earned spending money by baby sitting and doing peoples hair .She was a very good hairdresser, which came in very handy for her later in life.

In 1935 Ruby was married to Grant Lyman Bates in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Ruby worked in Relief Society and Mutual and they became dance instructors for Mutual. Ruby was an excellent seamstress and made many, many costumes for their dancers over the years. They worked in the school system and taught square dancing in the community, with Grant being the caller.

Besides being the wonderful mother of three, and working on the farm along side Grant and the children. Ruby was doing hair. They finally decided she would go to Twin Falls to Beauty College and remodeled their home to include a Beauty Shop.

In 1957 the Bates family moved to Inglewood California where by years end Ruby had a new Beauty Shop, Grant had a new occupation and all three children married and started to produce grandchildren.

As they prepared to retire, Grant built a beautiful camper and they enjoyed traveling together. Grant passed away in 1982 and Ruby remarried in 1984; to a Yuma "snowbird" from Shoshone; Burton Thorne. When Burton passed in 1990, Bruce Bates moved Ruby and her lovely little mobile home to Yucaipa, California.

Ruby loved the mountains there and as she grew older, her family moved her to an assisted living home. In January 2010 she was transferred to the Braswell’s Hampton Manor.

Ruby is survived by her daughter; Sherry (LeRoy) Kelly of La Habra, California. Two daughters in law; Larae (Gordon) Curtis of Twin Falls, Idaho and Vicki Bates of Yucaipa, California. Fifteen grandchildren, thirty nine great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; Grant Bates and Burton Thorne, an infant daughter; Linda Louise, two son; Rodney Bates and Bruce Bates and one great granddaughter; Hannah Bates.

A viewing for family and friends will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 27, 2010 at White Mortuary with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Monday at White Mortuary “Chapel by the Park”. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. To share a memory of Ruby or offer condolences to Ruby’s family please visit www.whitemortuary.com.