Ruby Jane Sharpley

Ruby Jane Sharpley, age 98, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 7, 2024, at 10:24 a.m. in her home in Centennial, Colorado, lovingly cared for by her daughter Nancy (Nan) Torrence and son-in-law Richard Torrence. In her final days, she remained in the comfort of familiar surroundings under in-home hospice care, leaving this life with grace and dignity.

Ruby was born the elder of twins on June 15, 1926, in Dakota County, Minnesota, to Hans and Cecelia Scott. She was one of a large, close-knit family that included her older sister Anna (Ann), her oldest brother Leroy, her twin brother Rueben, and her younger brothers Howard, Walter (Joe), and Norman (Shorty). Guided by the strength and unity of her early family life, Ruby carried forward a spirit of resilience and compassion in all that she did.

After graduating, Ruby moved to the Twin Cities and began working in accounting within the insurance industry. During this period, a blind date introduced her to Irving Sharpley. They were married on June 25, 1947, and soon settled in Denver, Colorado, where they raised three children: Dale (August 1949), Cheryl (July 1953), and Nan (November 1955).

As a family, they savored life’s simpler pleasures—camping, traveling, and enjoying evenings at Uncle Louie’s Barn Dances, where Ruby and Irving happily square danced well into the night. Later, as their children began families of their own, Ruby and Irving embraced a more pastoral life on a 64-acre farm in Elizabeth, Colorado. There, they tended gardens, rounded up the occasional wandering cattle, and continued to nurture a love of the outdoors, now traveling in an RV accompanied by an ever-growing circle of grandchildren.

Ruby was preceded in death by her beloved son Dale and her devoted husband Irving. She is survived by her daughters Cheryl and Nan, son-in-law Richard, grandchildren Loren, Jenelle, Heather, Timothy, Chad, and Janie, as well as numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her legacy endures in their hearts, a testament to her kindness, perseverance, and unwavering love.

A private family service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to honor Ruby’s memory through a quiet act of kindness or by contributing to a meaningful charity, continuing the compassionate spirit she shared so generously throughout her long and remarkable life.