JoLean Grace Ruggles

JoLean Grace Ruggles was born in Goodland, Kansas on Oct. 1st, 1936. She grew up in modest housing on ranches in Kansas and then in South Eastern Colorado because her Dad, Red Healey, was the Ranch Foreman. Her Mother, Audrey Rogers, taught in rural schools nearby. Good Irish stock, Red and Audrey had one son and four daughters. The oldest child, Joann, died when she was a baby, so JoLean was the oldest girl.

When Red got a job as a Union Rep.,the family moved to Olathe, Colorado, on the Western Slope. JoLean was 17. She went to Western St. College in Gunnison where she met Philip Ruggles, her husband of 57 years. Philip passed away in 2014.

Phil and JoLean had three children: Michelle, Roxane and Matthew.

JoLean began her professional life as a Med. Tech. but soon returned to school (CU) to earn a Master’s Degree in Cellular Biology. She taught Math for 41 years: beginning at the Jr. High and High School levels in Mapleton School District. She then taught at the University level (Metro State and Regis).

In 1973, both JoLean and Phil won Grants/Sabbatical Leave to attend the University of Illinois where she earned a second Masters (Math) and Phil earned a Specialist Degree. The family moved to Champagne/Urbana that year to be closer to Matt (he was 6), who lived in St. Louis, attending St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf for 11 years.

JoLean was an accomplished teacher, winning many awards and Grants. In 1988, she was named Best Secondary Teacher (1 of 3) by The Colorado Department of Education.

Post-Retirement, JoLean kept her toe in the educational realm by supervising student teachers. She spent countless hours tutoring struggling students; helping them get through Math courses to complete school.

JoLean was an accomplished musician. Her parents purchased a piano when she was 14. She played the church organ when the family lived in Westminster. In 1984, they moved to Arvada. Philip bought her a Baby Grand piano. She played the French horn in the Community Orchestra. She played the Trombone and the Banjo. She played in the Bell Choir at her sister, Janice’s, church. Later in life, she learned how to play the Pipe Organ.

JoLean tap-danced/Broadway-danced (on and off) for 69 years of her life.

JoLean always loved horses and appreciated the sport of Rodeo. She thoroughly enjoyed attending the National Western Stock Show and Cheyene Frontier Days, annually, her entire life.

Accomplishments that need to be recognized include volunteering over 10,000 hours for the Arvada Arts Center. She was proud of her work with the League of Women Voters; volunteering for the Democratic National Convention in 2008. She was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Ann’s for decades.

JoLean and Phil loved to travel. Taking family road trips: visiting every State in the Union; every Nat. Park. In their retirement years, they traveled to over 40 countries.

JoLean was a kind and generous soul. She will always be remembered for her brilliance, her love of family and her Fruitcake, cookies and fudge.

JoLean is survived by her two sisters, Janice Buswell and Laurel Healey (Jeff May), her Sister-In-Laws: Margie James and Audrey Healey, her Children: Michelle Healey (Mike Lewellen), Roxane Ruggles (Steve Morgan), Matt Ruggles (Janet Delgado), her Grandchildren: Laura Lewellen (27), Derek (28) and Kendall (25) Ruggles-Delgado, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Please make a donation in Memory of JoLean Ruggles to Denver Pet Partners at denverpetpartners.org.

Denver Pet Partners - Building Healthier Communities through the Power of the Human-Animal Bond Denver Pet Partners is a 501(c)(3) all-Volunteer, non-profit organization that has provided Animal Assisted services at no cost to the greater Denver metro area since 2001.

Online: denverpetpartners.org or mail a check to: Denver Pet Partners PO Box 271505 Littleton, Colo 80127 Note: In Memory of JoLean Ruggles