Ruth I Hessey

Ruth Irene Ferebee was born 25 February 1926 on a farm just outside Nelson, Nebraska. She was the only daughter and youngest of four children, born to Joe and Geneva Ferebee. She graduated high school and went on to “Normal School” so she could earn a teacher’s certificate to teach school in a one room schoolhouse when she was just 18 years old. She married Sidney Hessey Jr. of Fairfield, Nebraska in May 1944. They were married in Mankato, Kansas since there was no waiting period for the marriage license and Sid was home on just a three day pass from the Navy. They were married for 61 years prior to his passing in 2005. They has two daughters, Virginia Jo and Marcia Leigh.

Following the war and Sid’s Navy discharge they moved to Pondosa, Oregon where Sid worked in a lumber mill and Ruth was the post mistress. In 1959 the family moved to Baker, Oregon when the mill closed. In 1964 they moved to Yakima, Washington. Sid was promoted to a lumber inspector and Ruth was hired as the registrar for Eisenhower High School. She was employed there for 20 years. They were very active in Englewood Christian Church. They sang in the choir for decades, and served in several positions over the years.

Ruth also sang in the Yakima Bell Canto Women’s Choir for many years. She and Sid loved to camp and hunt Indian artifacts, and rocks. They joined the Yakima Alpine Lite Camping Club in 1980 and remained active in their monthly potluck luncheons even after Sid’s passing.

Sid and Ruth lived at 3009 W Chestnut for 52 years where she was neighborhood “Mom”. Finally, in 2016, Ruth moved to the Living Care facility. She remained active stuffing envelopes, attending Chapel and Bible study, exercise classes, and playing Beanbag Baseball. She was asked to show her apartment, which was so comfy and generous, to prospective tenants of Living Care on a regular basis.

Anyone who met Ruth had a friend for life. She never met a stranger, was kind and helpful to everyone, and was always happy. Thus you could not go anywhere in Yakima without her stopping to talk to someone she knew. She was the type of person everyone enjoyed being around.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband Sid, all of her immediate family, all of Sid’s immediate family, and daughter Virginia Jo. She is survived by her daughter Marcia (Greg) Duncan of Junction City, Kansas, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and countless friends.

Celebration of Life will be held at Meyer Auditorium at Living Care at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 20, 2022.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Hessey family.