L. Ruth Sowers' Obituary
Ruth was born in Central City, Nebraska on March 19, 1911 to Fred and Mary Miller. She passed away in Sumner, Washington on October 20, 2007 at the age of 96. Ruth was one of four children. Her father's jobs as a sharecropper and with the railroad took the family from Nebraska to Alberta, Canada, and then west to Coulee City, Centralia, and finally Tacoma, Washington within the span of eight years. From early adolescence on, Ruth lived her remaining years in the South Sound. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1930, and was employed as a young adult at a box factory, Nalley's Cannery, and Facett's Cannery. Her work ethic was unmatched! In 1932, she married H. Ray Sowers of Tacoma, and together they settled in the Proctor District next to Fire Station 13. Never wishing to be idle, Ruth assisted in her husband's Proctor Street business, Ray Sowers Jeweler, that he operated for 42 years. She became a proud mother to Richard in 1941, joined the Cook Staff at Mason Junior High in 1951, and eventually became Mason's Head Cook until retiring in 1973. In Ruth's retirement years, she was widowed, and remarried John Frelin, became a beloved grandmother, moved to Puyallup, and was active in her community through Amaranth and the Waller Road Grange association. She was a lifelong member of the Community of Christ. Most recently, and to her great delight, Ruth became a great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, three siblings, and husbands Ray and John. She is survived by her son Richard (Leanne) Sowers, granddaughter Christine (Dwayne)Campbell, grandson Mark (Chelsie) Sowers, and great-grandson Owen. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of Ruth's life will be held at the University Place Community of Christ, 6912 40th Street West, on Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 2:00 P.M.
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