Margie “Ruth” (Elliott) Sheeley

Ruth was born Sept. 17, 1925 in Moran, Texas to Olin and Nancy Delany (Brooks) Elliott. She was raised on a farm and was educated in Texas. After graduating from high school in Moran, she went to live with a sister in Sweetwater, TX and worked there at Tansils Dress Shop. During World War II she met Leon B. Sheeley Jr. from Yakima. They were married Oct. 14, 1944 in El Paso, TX in the Chapel at Fort Bliss. Ruth worked at Mountain States Telephone Co. in El Paso while Leon was in the service there. Then, he was transferred to Memphis, TN. There she worked in the office at American Finishing Co. In 1945 Ruth and Leon moved to Yakima and started their family, having two daughters. They owned Lee’s Music Shop. After his death in 1977 Ruth sold the music shop and worked at Peoples Department Store from 1978 to 1984. After Peoples Store closed, she worked at S.O. Hawkes Jewelers until retiring in 1988.

Mom’s favorite times were when she was with her family. She adored her four grandchildren. She played games with them (hide the thimble, drop the clothespin in the jar) and loved to rock them when they were small. When one was sick she would say “you need a milkshake” and would bring one to whoever wasn’t feeling well. She made the best chocolate chip cookies. She liked being silly and having a good time and loved watching The Golden Girls on TV. We have so many wonderful memories of our Mom and Mamow (what her grandkids lovingly call her). Our entire family attended a “cousin” reunion in Austin, TX in March 2010. Mom was the matriarch, being that she was the only sibling left of that generation. We all had a wonderful time. That was her last trip to Texas. Mom would often mention that she lived longer than anyone else in her Texas family.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leon; brothers George Elliott and Warren Elliott of Texas, sisters Aleta Pinnell and Oma Lea Maynes also of Texas, and Pauline Clinton of Farmington, NM. She is survived by her two daughters, Patricia (Richard) Burdette of Tucson, AZ, and Janet Lea (Rick) Gifford of Yakima. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Branin (Fernando) Burdette, James (Bethany) Burdette, Scott Gifford and Lauren (Devin) White. She had two step great-grandchildren, Keely and Jason Burrow, and many dogs that she loved very much: Skippy and Cindy, and grand-dogs: Jodie, Copper, Emmy Sue and Katy Rose Burdette and Betsy, Angie and Lola Gifford.

Thank you to Fieldstone Memory Care for loving and caring for Mom. Some of the care staff would be silly with her, which made her time there fun and enjoyable. And, thank you to Cottage in the Meadow for making Mom’s last day as comfortable as it could possibly be.

A service for Ruth will be held on Monday, December 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm at Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Donations may be made at Fieldstone Memory Care, 4120 Englewood Ave., Yakima, WA 98908.

To share a memory of Ruth, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.