Ruth Louise Gray, formerly of Trinity Center, went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 12, 2022. She passed peacefully in the presence of her family.

Ruth was born February 27, 1934 in St. Helena to Clarence and Olive Hague. She grew up on a walnut ranch with her family along the Silverado Trail near Calistoga. There she picked walnuts and prunes for extra money. Her father taught her to hunt deer and pheasant, her mother and sister taught her to plant gardens, and her brother taught her to identify wildflowers. She was a member of 4H and played clarinet in the high school band. After high school, she moved to Santa Rosa, to attend junior college. It was there that she met Earnie Gray and they soon married. Their first home was in Richardson’s Grove State Park, where they worked for the summer. In the fall they drove to San Jose pulling their Prairie Schooner trailer. Earnie attended San Jose State and Ruth cared for their children, Gerry and Laura. After Earnie’s graduation they moved to Santa Rosa, where Earnie worked as an insurance agent and Ruth cared for their now four children (with the addition of James and Andrew). The family was very active in the local boat club.

In 1964 the family moved to Eureka, where Ruth soon became a very active mother. She belonged to numerous clubs: Bridge, Sorority, PTA, Cub Scout Den Mother for Den 5, and Heritage Society to name a few. It was at the Women’s Bible Study Fellowship that she believed and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. Ruth helped start the first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Eureka. Her home was a refuge for abused dogs.

In 1982, after her divorce from Earnie, Ruth moved with her dog to Trinity Center. She made many friends in this tight-knit community. She became a Sunday School Teacher, AWANA Leader, Bulletin Creator and Financial Secretary for her local community church. She sang in the church choir, attended women’s bible study and prayer meetings. Ruth joined the fire department as an EMT. Traveling with the Weaverville Historical Society was favorite of hers. She worked at the Jaktri Market in Trinity Center with her best friend Top for many years. Weekly hikes in the Trinity Alps with friends was a “must-do.” Ruth swam, fished, hunted, painted, wrote and gardened in Trinity Center. Ruth was fondly nicknamed “Hero” because she drove many folks to their doctor appointments out of town.

Ruth’s most favorite times were with her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren playing games, hunting agates at the beach and taking them swimming every day in the summertime. She taught numerous children how to water-ski with the bribe of a milkshake afterwards. Her kindness, humor, generosity and fun spirit will be missed by all.

Ruth was preceded in death by her father Clarence Hague, her mother Olive Hague, her brother Harry, her sister Grace, and her son Gerald Gray. She is survived by her daughter Laura (Mark) Butler, son James (Melody) Gray, son Andrew (Darcy) Gray, twelve grandchildren and their spouses, twelve great- grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Frye’s Care Home in Eureka, where Ruth resided for three years before her death.

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