Ruth Kathleen McCoy Eldridge

Ruth Kathleen (McCoy) Eldridge was born on June 24th, 1941 and passed away on January 5th, 2022 at the age of 80, after a twenty year battle with cancer. She said she never minded sharing her age, but never, ever her weight.

Kathleen was survived by two sons, Rocky McCoy, and his beloved Liz, and Tim McCoy, his wife Jennifer and children Samantha and Simon Brewer, and survived husbands Cassell McCoy and Luther Eldridge. She was one of seven children and was survived by brothers Bill, Reese, Danny and sister LaVaughn and survived sisters Lena and Cheryl. She also left behind a Yorkie named Murphy. She even survived Betty White, which would have brought her a laugh had I been able to tell her. She liked Betty and always loved a good joke!

As one walks through life, we're often fortunate to have found a number of "moms" on life's journey. Kathleen was Tim's and my Mom, but she was a mom to many others. Even through a two decade long fight against cancer, through surgeries, chemo therapy and the associated pain and suffering, she always had a smile for a stranger or kind words for her friends and family. Her visits to doctor's offices, hospitals and treatment centers were not dreadful ordeals to Mom, but rather opportunities to catch up with the friends she'd made there or to find new friends. Mom never met a stranger, just a potential friend.

Mom was not defined by the brutal malady that finally caught up with her, but it was a lens that magnified who she really was inside. Mom was strong. She never seemed to feel particularly strong, but Mom had a dogged determination that was unmatched. I know she was often afraid, but she was truly brave deep down. I've heard it said that bravery is the ability to keep your feet from moving while the rest of you is running away. That was my Mom. She always found it inside her to keep moving.

Mom was the one who always wanted to pick up the check. (Tim and I had a few arguments there.) She loved helping people in any way she could. I finally got her to stop hiding gas money in my car after I'd taken her somewhere, but that was Mom. She wanted to pay her way and if she overpaid, so be it. Mom loved Gondolier, a local restaurant. The food is great there, but Mom went there for years to see the people who had become family. She was a regular there and even when the chemo had robbed her of her taste, she would go there and order a little something and be with the people there.

Mom collected family everywhere. She was the one who liked to plan family gatherings for Christmas, birthdays and other holidays. In fact, Mom apologized for not being able to make Easter baskets for us in 2020, with a pandemic raging. Tim and I had a lot of Softball teams and in the mid 90s, Mom would host Christmas parties for friends and family and the whole Softball gang and I'll never forget those. To the Softball family, I have one thing to say about losing that fine lady: "Biscuits & Gravy!"

Mom's journey carried her through pain, heartache and loss, as do we all, but she also found the joy and wonder and fun in the world. She carried herself with grace and dignity throughout all of it. She was always ready to laugh. She even created a poetry website where she shared it all. Her purse and shoes always matched her dress and her hair was always just so, right up until the end. I never saw her in a pair of pants or any form of T-shirt.

Mom was my mother, but she was also my friend. We talked about anything and everything and always had time to call each other about something that was coming on TV, or some meal we'd eaten or something we'd done. Mom was a sweet, sweet lady and I'll miss her.

Please leave a condolence or memory of Mrs. Eldridge at www.woodstockfuneralhome.com.

Services have been entrusted into the care of Woodstock Funeral Home, 8855 Main Street, Woodstock, GA 30188, 770-926-3107.