Ruth G. Donaldson

Ruth Geraldine Lyday was born , August 13,1930, in Poncha City, Oklahoma. Ruth ( affectionately known to many as Jerry ) was the youngest of three children born to Doc and Ruth Lyday. When Jerry was very young, the family moved to North Denver, where they lived during Jerry's school years.

Jerry met Bob Weaver at Lakeside Amusement Park, one July evening, as they watched fireworks. After a short courtship , they were married on Dec.24, 1946. From that union were born 4 children: Douglas Leonard, Mark Eugene, Stephen Daniel, and Debra Eileen. Jerry was a “stay at home” Mom and her children remember how very caring she was. She encountered illnesses with her small children, but managed, on limited income, to care for her children in a loving way. The family took many vacations, road trips to California to visit relatives. Those are special memories.

In the early years of her adulthood, she was an active church member. She made sure they were in church as a family. She attended Harvey Park Christian Church, Englewood Baptist Church, and later Denver Baptist Temple.

Jerry and Bob became 'foster parents' to a wonderful young man named Wilkin Sage. He came to live with them from the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona. They took him into their family and assisted him in finishing high school, and preparing for ministry.

Even in her recent years at home and in the nursing home, Wilkin was a very welcome visitor.

She smiled when she spoke of Wilkin, or talked with him on the phone.

After a 25 year marriage, Jerry found herself as a single Mom. Because her sons were already gone from home, she and her daughter Debra became best friends and roommates. They worked together, waitressing, hostesssing, and doing anything they could to earn a living. Jerry worked as a Pharmacy Tech, and finally was led to a job that also became her ministry. She was employed be St. Joseph's Hospital, at their “Humboldt House”. She worked for 18 years,

ministering to out-of-town families whose loved ones were hospitalized. She welcomed them, often listened to their grief, and offered emotional support. Jerry's gifts as a caregiver, were able to shine in that job.

Jerry married Dwight Donaldson in 1972. Soon after their marriage, Dwight was diagnosed with cancer and Jerry spent the next 15 plus years, caring for him. She again became a caregiver, and kept him home until his death in Feb. 1989.

Although much of Jerry's life was marked by her own poor health, many surgeries, and hospitalizations, there was a side of Jerry that only her family and close friends knew. She was alive and vibrant, she loved COLOR and MUSIC, DANCING, and COOKING. She was the queen of 'glitter and glitz. She was into “BLING” before the word became popular. She liked ONIONS and LEMONS, SPICY flavorful foods. She loved crossword puzzles, and reading until her eyesight began to fail. That made her an excellent speller ! In recent years she showed a very humorous side, as well. She would surprise us with some very sharp humor.

Her constant companion for the last 6 years of her life was her little dog “Bunnie”. Bunnie provided a very special measure of comfort and friendship.

Western Hills Care Center became her home for the last 3 years of her life. The staff of caregivers became very close to Jerry. She considered many of them her family. They lovingly took excellent and often very “special” care of her. They brought her 'burritos', they took care of walking her little “Bunnie”, and they stopped in to see her frequently.

Geri's very special friend for many years was “DEE” - who came to visit her faithfully,and brought her flowers,( and took special care of her hair ) nearly every week until her own body failed her and she went home to be with the Lord last year. Her passing left a huge hole in Geri's heart.

Ruth Geraldine Donaldson is survived by two children – son, Douglas ( wife Lona )

daughter, Debra Weeter ( husband Jerry ); 7 grandchildren – Daniel, David, and Deborah Weaver; Brittany,and Brooke Weeter; Kirsten and Meagan Weaver, and nephew – Rick Wiser, as well Wilkin Sage.

She was preceded in death by her parents- Doc and Ruth Lyday, her brother Bill Lyday,

her sister Syble Wiser, and her two sons – Mark Eugene, and Stephen Daniel.

We, her family, are grateful for the knowledge that Jerry is now in heaven with her family- gone before- and she is no longer suffering the excruciating pain she lived with the last years. She can hear perfectly, she can see clearly, she can lay down flat, and sit up straight. Her home going was swift, and for that we thank the Lord. We will miss her so much, but we will “not grieve as those who have no hope”, for we KNOW we will see her someday soon