A Tribute to Ruth Byer Moore, My Husband’s Grandmother Who Left Us at 103

For the last 11 years I’ve had the pleasure of knowing my husband’s amazing Grandma Moore who I thought of as my surrogate grandparent.  She welcomed me to the family, which for me was the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

 

Grandma was born in 1912 before the sinking of the Titanic.  She was the eldest of three children. Her father died in the 1918 flu pandemic while her younger brother Fred was still in-vitro.  Her mother survived the flu and raised Grandma Ruth, her sister Mary Jane and Fred through the Great Depression. 

This amazing lady was the rock for her 6 children after her husband died in 1962.  She worked hard, raised her children to be successful, and lived independently in her own house until the end. She outlived her friends and her younger siblings who passed shortly after Labor Day last fall. Although her sight and hearing were failing, her mind remained sharp until the final year. She remembered the names of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great -great - grandchildren.  She was kind but opinionated. Gentle but strong. She drove a car until her early 90’s.  She was well loved.

 

But she got tired and lonely. Living to an advanced age is an honor and a privilege. But it is also lonely. Grandma Ruth had her daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great -grandchildren that had the good fortune to know her. But she outlived her friends, her husband, and her siblings. She was ready to join them.

I will miss Grandma Moore. But while I will mourn, I know that she has lived an amazing life that deserves to be celebrated. My heart is heavy for my husband, my in-laws who lived across the street from Grandma, my sister-in-law and her children, and for all of those who were so touched by her life.  I just feel blessed that for this brief 11 years, I had her in my life.