Ruth Marie Cox passed away on Tuesday, July 30th, 2024, in her home at Atria Senior Living Center in Longmont, CO, with members of her family by her side. Ruth marked her 95th birthday with a family celebration in February.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 7th, at 11:00am, at Brush United Methodist Church. A luncheon will follow in the church community room from noon to 1:30. The family will have a private interment ceremony, at a future date, at the Brush Memorial Cemetery.

Ruth was born February 18th, 1929, in Brush, CO, to Clarence Jackson (C.J. aka Doc) and Jenny Amy Hawks. She had two sisters: Roberta, a year older, and Dorothy, a year younger. The family resided on a farm near Woodrow, CO during Ruth's early years, and in 1941 they settled in Fort Morgan where Ruth graduated High School with the class of 1946. She attended Colorado Women's College in Denver, graduating in 1948 with an Associate's in Arts Degree. Ruth began her teaching career in Hillrose the fall of 1948 and taught there for two years. She then taught in Windsor for one year and two years in Brush.

While teaching in Hillrose, Ruth met a handsome young farmer named Robert "Bob" Cox. Story has it that she winked at him once at a community gathering and it "sent him over the moon". Bob put forward his best efforts to impress her, including maintaining a dating relationship while Ruth taught in Windsor through letters, weekly phone calls, and weekend dates when possible. They were married in Fort Morgan, November 23rd, 1952. She and Bob moved to the Cox's Trowel Ranch by Hillrose and she paused teaching while their 3 children, Dennis, Ryan and Cheryl, were young.

Ruth returned to teaching in 1965 at Thompson Elementary School in Brush. In 1967 she received her Bachelor of the Arts degree from University of Colorado, Boulder. Ruth and Bob built a home and moved to Brush in 1972. Ruth retired in 1995 and continued to substitute, almost full-time, until 2012. In total, Ruth taught in Morgan County Public Schools for over 60 years, spanning three generations of children.

Ruth was an active member in many community and service organizations including Entre Nous, The Delta Kappa Gamma Society, United Federation of Women's Club, HeadStart, Brush Hospital Auxiliary, Brush United Methodist Church and Hillrose United Methodist Church, where she led the Sunday School program.

Ruth was well known locally for her beautiful and prolific quilt making, which she enjoyed displaying at the annual 4th of July Library Quilt Show. The Brush church was blessed to receive beautiful sanctuary banners and other building adornments.

Her family will always cherish the many marriage quilts, baby quilts, and endless other sewn gifts that she made for them. These will be treasured for generations.

Ruth's voice was quiet but came with a gentle strength. She was the epitome of calm, cool, and collected; gracious, and so giving of her time, talents and love. Steadfast and easy going, her motto was "What will be, will be". She was an inspiration to many and was always up for any new project, activity or adventure and participated wholeheartedly. She enjoyed family gatherings, camping, playing cards, puzzles, and traveling with Bob. After Bob's passing, Ruth decided to move to Longmont in 2019 where she could live closer to her children and enjoy senior community activities.

Ruth is survived by her three children: Dennis (Sharon) Cox of Berthoud, CO, Ryan (Sheryl) Cox of Homosassa, FL and Cheryl (Mike) Hollis of Fort Collins, CO; eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by Bob, her husband of 65 years, her parents and sisters, and one granddaughter.

Those who wish may make memorial gifts to Brush United Methodist Church, 1701 Edmunds St., Brush, CO 80723.

Funeral services furnished by Heer Mortuary, 222 Cameron St., Brush, CO 80723.