Ruth D Hayden

1920 - 2014

Ruth Delores (Downing) Hayden of Redding died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at age 94. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, and her family will miss her smile and her laugh.Born April 1, 1920, in Scobey, Mont., she later moved to Fairview, Mont., where she married Bob Hayden in 1939. They moved to Shasta County in 1940.Ruth and her husband owned several stores in Shasta County in the 1950s and 60s, including Pitside store in Big Bend and Bonnyview and Eastside markets in Redding. She also worked at the Shasta College Bookstore in the 1970s and 80s.Ruth enjoyed gardening and sewing, and she volunteered making quilts for charity at Trinity Lutheran Church in Redding. She was also an expert baker, and her cookies and donuts were treasured by her family. She is survived by her sons Lloyd and his wife Roseann, Donald, and Raymond and his wife Sheri, all of Redding; sisters Lois Busby and Margie Irwin, both of Redding; grandchildren Debsue and Kerri of San Francisco, Susan Hayden-Wentworth of Houston, Neil of Redding, Kim of Alameda, and Scott of San Diego; and great-grandchildren Bryce and Alyssa of Redding, and Hayden and Madeline Wentworth of Houston. She was preceded in death by husband Bob; brothers Lloyd, Les, Donald, and Roy Downing; sister Edna Downing; and son Lt. Neil Hayden, who was killed in Vietnam in 1969.