Ruth McCormick
Redmond resident Ruth Marie McCormick died Oct. 21, 2008, at the age of 86.
She was born Dec. 8, 1921, in Independence, Kan., to parents James and Grace Simpson. The family moved to Oregon when she was in the second grade, crossing in a Model-T. She worked with her family on farms, and also raised horses, cattle, chickens, pigs, milk cows, and dogs.
She graduated from Newberg High School in 1939, and in 1945 was named queen of the Tualatin Valley Rodeo.
She met Denney Hodson "Buck" McCormick at the Mountain Top School, and they were married there on Sept. 13, 1956. In March 23, 1968, they moved to Redmond where they ranched together, and grazed cattle with Hampton Butte Grazing Corporation.
Mrs. McCormick did many different types of jobs, from babysitting to housekeeping for the Redmond Hospital for years.
She was active in many organizations, including Chehalem Mountain Trail Riders, Chehalem Mountain Extension Unit, Buck Heaven Variant Club, Washington County Posse, Deschutes County Cowbelles from 1968 to 1975, Redmond First Baptist Church and the Redmond Community Church where she helped with Sunday school, and was a stockholder of the Deschutes County Fair.
Her special interests included fishing, hunting, camping in the beautiful Oregon outdoors, riding horses on the Skyline Trail (now Pacific Crest Trail), knitting, sewing, watching football on TV, and visiting with family and friends.
Survivors include her sons, Tim and his wife Lynne McCormick of Culver, Joe and wife June McCormick of Madras; granddaughters, Jill, Diana, Jessica and Kyle McCormick-Fisher, Whitney, Ginny; great-granddaughter, Karlye; brother, J. Arthur Simpson of Mississippi; sister, Irene Dotson of Ventura, Calif.; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Buck on Dec. 21, 1970, her parents, brother Kenneth, brother-in-law Ray Dotson, and sisters-in-law Arby and Jane Simpson.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 1, at Redmond Memorial Cemetery. A potluck at Culver Christian Church will follow the services. Memorial contributions have been suggested to the Alzheimer's Foundation. Arrangements were under the direction of Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home of Madras.
Family Members
Spouse
Denney Hodson McCormick
1910–1970
