Ruth Knight Carrell

Ruth Knight Carrell passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2016. Ruth was born in Aztec, NM at home on March 13, 1933. Ruth lived on a ranch in Bondad, Colorado in a lovely valley with mountains in the distance. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse from 1st through 7th grade and then attended junior high and high school in Durango. Ruth attended Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in business in 1954. She was president of Alpha Sigma Tau, and worked during the college summers in San Francisco. She then taught school at Bayfield High School in Durango. Ruth met her husband Ray Knight, at a concert. Ruth and Ray were married on July 2, 1955 and enjoyed a happy marriage until his untimely death in 1975. Ruth and Ray moved often, as his work for Shell Oil and Mobil Oil took them from Farmington, NM to Bakersfield, CA to Century City, CA and then on to Denver. Ruth and Ray had two daughters, Candace and Kelly. During the years Ruth raised her daughters, she was a Girl Scout Leader, taught Sunday school and belonged to the Junior Women's club where she organized a Youth Employment agency, and transcribed books for the blind. When the family moved to Denver, she went back into education and worked at the State Board for Community Colleges, in various positions. In 1986 she married Robert Carrell. They lived a contented life until 2010, when Robert passed away. Then Ruth moved to Holly Creek Retirement Community where she enjoyed the community of friends and activities. Ruth is predeceased by her parents and her sister, Evelyn, and her brothers Raymond and Thomas and her niece Stacy. She is survived by her sister Mary Esther, and her children Candace (Ken), and Kelly (Paul). Her grandchildren Eddie (Jessica), Cade, Lily, Deserae and Cristy were a source of great delight to her and she loved them with all of her heart. She also was very close to her nieces Tory and Jenaya. A small gathering will be held in the living room of the Alpine Assisted Living Suites at Holly Creek at 3:30 on Friday, October 28, 2016 to celebrate Ruth's life. In lieu of flowers, please honor Ruth with a gift to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, for Parkinson's research, whose single urgent goal is to cure Parkinson's disease. Their website address is https://www.michaeljfox.org/. Ruth was a woman of faith, and endured Parkinson's disease for many years with grace and goodness, and will be missed by her many friends and her family. Please share memories of Ruth and condolences with the family by signing the guestbook below.