Ruth Eva DeVore

Ruth Eva Caldwell DeVore, 94, of Grand Junction, Colorado, embarked on her heavenly journey on December 11, 2024. Ruth was born in Grand Junction on April 1, 1930, to Verne and Hannah (Blue) Caldwell of Meeker, CO.

Ruth attended grade school in Meeker and graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1948. She then attended Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, graduating in 1950, majoring in vocal music. In the 1970s, she furthered her education in early childhood development at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming.

While at Cottey College, Ruth met her first husband, William Nichols, with whom she had two children. Ruth returned to Meeker where she met and married the love of her life, Jack H. DeVore, adding four more children to their family. After Jack's passing, she married Charles F. DeVore.

In addition to raising her family, Ruth worked as a substitute teacher and a daycare manager while living in Wyoming. Upon Jack’s retirement from the Forest Service, they moved to Colorado. Ruth retired in 1992 from her role as an administrative assistant with Mesa County School District's Food Service in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Family was paramount to Ruth, but her warmth and generosity extended to everyone she met, making them feel like part of her extended family. She cherished her church friends, her P.E.O. sisters, and the staff at the La Villa Grande Care Center where she lived at the time of her death. Ruth was known for her great sense of humor and her love of spirited debates, often taking an opposing view just to engage others.

Ruth was adventurous and skilled in many areas. She loved traveling by auto, train, plane, boat, horse, or ATV, learning about new places, and always stopping to read historical markers. Ruth was kind to people and animals and was talented in sewing, cross-stitching, crocheting, and singing. She was unbeatable at cards and an expert angler, often catching the first, biggest, and most fish on any outing.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Verne and Hannah (Blue) Caldwell; her brother, John F. Caldwell, her sister, Rachel (Buck) Palmer, and her husbands, William Nichols, Jack H. DeVore, and Charles F. DeVore.

Ruth is survived by her children, Doc (Cheryl) DeVore, Sharon (Bill) Johnson, Bev (Roy) DeVore-Wedding, Jackie (Rob) Kastner, Allan (Annie) DeVore, and Caroline (Douglas) Carey; her grandchildren also survive her, Travis DeVore, Heather Hartnett, Jason DeVore, Falon Outlaw, Sean DeVore, Mysha Mattimoe, David Christensen, Sharolyn Barkley, Sara Kastner, Cody DeVore, and Cory DeVore. She is survived by her great-grandchildren, Decker (Preslee) Mattimoe, Davin Mattimoe, Mikey Hartnett, Vivian Hartnett, Isaac Christensen, Linda Christensen, Trent Lopez, Tate Lopez, Tristin DeVore, Makayla Christensen, Nate Christensen, and her great-great-grandchildren, Maya Shelley, Gevaya Lell, Anthony Lopez, Andrik Lopez, and Remi Mattimoe.

Services will be held at Loma Community Church, at 11 am on January 18, 2025. Graveside services will be held at a later date in Meeker CO.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity or nonprofit in memory of Ruth.