Ruby Laverne (Johnson) Woodcock
Marriages
Maurice Woodstock - December 24, 1947
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B Obituary - October 4, 2017
Ruby Laverne Johnson
Woodcock was born February
15, 1928, in May Valley,
Colorado to Jacob and Lydia
Johnson. When she was six
weeks old, the family moved
to the Grand Valley in the
Mack area and a year later to
21 ½ Road and I ½ Road
where she lived until she was married.
Ruby and Maurice Woodcock were married on December 24,
1947. Maurice preceded her in death on June 23, 2017, six
months short of their 70th anniversary. When she was a
freshman at Fruita Union High School, she saw Maurice
standing across the room from her in the library and she
proclaimed he was the man for her.
Ruby was the youngest of five children. Her oldest brother,
Raymond, died in an automobile accident when she was 11
years old. Hannah, who was 16 when Ruby was born, was a
second mother to Ruby and that bond remained steadfast. Ruby
and older brother, Ben, 12 years older, had a good relationship.
When she was five years old, Ben got her to milk a goat. She
was pretty upset with him when he did not want to drink that
dirt laden milk from the cup. A few days before Ben passed
away, they sat and recited poetry from their youth. Clarence,
eight years older than Ruby, took her for her first and last
airplane ride when she was 18. He had to make a pretty steep
dive to gain speed and momentum to complete a loop. That
could have been the deciding factor of her desire not to fly
again.
Ruby attended Appleton School and graduated from Fruita
Union High School in 1946. She worked in Oregon for a short
time before returning to Grand Junction where she was
employed at Gay Johnson’s as a bookkeeper until she was
married. She also worked at the Atomic Energy Company
before retiring to be a full time house wife and mother.
Ruby did not “quit” working when she retired. She gardened
and canned and sewed and kept the children dressed like a
prince and princess.
With Ruby’s busy life as a wife and mother, she found the time
to oil paint. Her talent was well known and her paintings were
displayed and sold in galleries in Colorado as well as New
Mexico. It would be a treasure to own one of her paintings.
Ruby enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and until her sight started failing,
always had one on a table that she would work on in her spare
time.
Ruby passed away on September 30th, 2017, in the comfort
and safety of her Lord. Services will be held Friday, October 6th
at 10:30 a.m. at Martin Mortuary, 550 North Avenue with burial
at the Orchard Mesa Cemetery immediately following.
Arrangements are through Martin Mortuary.
Ruby is survived by brother, Clarence (Joyce) Johnson of ID;
sister-in-law, Cheryl (Don) Jones of Grand Junction; son, Dale
of TX, (three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren);
daughter, Diane (Rob) Irvine of NV, and numerous nieces and
nephews. The friendship and love between Ruby and niece,
Claire (Gordy) Diers will be cherished.
To conclude this celebration of Ruby’s life, the family would
like to thank the loving care givers from Nightingale’s and
others who contributed so much. They are special ladies and
became part of Ruby’s family. A very special thank you to long
time friends, Chuck and Lisa, for their support and help in the
later stages of Ruby’s and Maurice’s lives. Hospice support was
greatly appreciated. Contributions may be made to Hospice or
the charity of your choice.
Messages of condolences may be sent to
www.martinmortuary.com.
