My beloved wife, Ruth Darlene Connolly, passed away on Sept. 10, 2026, at home in McKinleyville. She was with me, her husband of 37 years, Larry Connolly; her twin daughters, Patricia and Michelle Miller, from a previous marriage; and her dog, Max.

Ruth was born Oct. 30, 1937, in Woodland, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd A. Nichols and Georgia J. Nichols (Mack). She also lost her son, Mark Miller, at age 18. Ruth is survived by her husband, Larry; her daughters, Patti and Michelle; her grandchildren, Cason, Jack and Helena; and her great-grandson, Archer.

Her immediate cause of death was chronic respiratory failure, but Ruthie also suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis and was in constant pain most of her life, but she never complained about it. She just got on with the business of living, raising her family, putting her first husband through college, working at HSU as a department secretary and developing her garden at home, where she would watch the birds, squirrels and koi visit her. One of her greatest joys was to create holiday dinners or just invite friends and family to one of her famous prime rib dinners. Ruth was a wonderful hostess and could set a very glamorous table.

Once Ruth retired from HSU, she and Larry started touring the world and made friends from all over the globe. She was such a warm, gracious and inviting woman that she never had any difficulty in meeting folks from all over. This might be because as a child her dad was a machinist who moved his family very frequently. Ruth attended 12 different schools before graduating from Arcata High School. So Ruth developed the skill of meeting folks on their own terms. Ruth enjoyed traveling all over the United States to visiting most of the European countries to Mexico, Central America, Asia, Fiji, Australia, Spain and Portugal. She actually visited Vietnam with Larry when they went to visit one of Larry’s Rotary club’s water projects. One of Ruth’s most favorite places to visit was Lake Como in Northern Italy.

However, Ruth always enjoyed coming home to her house and garden. Her garden was her therapy for whatever might be going on with her physically. She had a saying: “When life has you down, put a plant in the ground.” Ruth was a Master Gardener, and she created a little bit of Heaven for herself at home. Even with some physical problems that the arthritis caused her, Ruthie was extremely talented and creative at sewing, painting, planting and writing. She wrote poems about people she met, places she had been and life in general.

Ruth’s memorial service will be held on October 24, 2026, at the McKinleyville Moose Lodge at 1 p.m. The Lodge is located at 1791 Sutter Road. In lieu of flowers, Ruth requested that donations in her name be sent to either Hospice of Humboldt or Sequoia Humane Society. Ruth is and will always be greatly missed by her many friends and most especially by her family. She was the loving heartbeat that kept her family together through all the joy and sorrow that life brings to us all.

Remember me
But most of all remember
Each day – right from the start
I will be forever near
For I live within your heart

— Judith Karen Bulock

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ruth Connolly’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.