Obituary of Ruth Irene Shoemaker Gregory

Ruth Irene Shoemaker Gregory, 97, quietly passed away on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2019, in Seattle, Washington, after visiting with and receiving calls from her children and family. Just an hour before passing she was talkative and engaged, asking how things were going with their respective lives.

Ruth was born August 27, 1921 to Sylvester A. and Maggie (Early) Shoemaker in Froid, Montana. She graduated from Wenatchee High School (Washington), attended business school in Peshastin (Washington) and earned a teaching degree from McPherson College (Kansas), where she majored in home economics. Following graduation, she taught home economics at Wenatchee High School for about two years.

Ruth married Wayne Thurston Gregory on July 3, 1948 at the Wenatchee Church of the Brethren. Throughout her children’s younger years she was a stay-at-home mother and wife. When her youngest was in junior high, Ruth worked as a substitute teacher in the Olympia School District for a few years. Her last employer was the State of Washington where she worked in the Migrant Education Department until her retirement.

Family was always first and foremost for Ruth. Music played a large part in her life--singing, playing the piano, participating in choirs, and acting as a song leader at summer church camp with her sister Lenora. Ruth knew more songs than Quaker has oats. She contributed to causes and programs to make a better world, at times writing heart-felt letters to the editor of the local paper--and to LBJ. During the years of care-giving for Wayne, she actively participated on community panels regarding the care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s, as well as the necessity for self-care of the care-giver.

Ruth was loving, adaptable, gentle, kind, supportive, strong, unassuming, and spiritual. Furthermore, she was organized and invariably had a plan. She utilized these planning skills for her start-up which she named “Ruth to the Rescue.”

Ruth lived a full life of kindness, laughter, enrichment, reflection and acceptance. She lived for her family and loved having children, even when they got older. She, of course, had her moments when she almost had to swear, but those were few. Her hair was done and lipstick was on when she went to meals or out for a walk at Mount St. Vincent, where she spent the last two years. She unfailingly put her best self forward. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her sons, Dwight E. Gregory (wife, Susan) of Santa Barbara, California, and Joel W. Gregory (wife, Susan) of Seattle; daughter, Cindy Gregory (husband, Dennis Martz) of Roslyn; and grandchildren, Ben Gregory of Leavenworth, Washington, and Cody Martz of Cle Elum, Washington. She was predeceased by her husband, Wayne, who passed away March 29, 1989.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 1, 2019, 2:00 p.m. at Unity Church of Olympia, 1335 Fern Street SW, Olympia, WA 98502.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Safe Place, 521 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA 98501, or online at https://www.safeplaceolympia.org.