Ruth Mary Brooks was born to Hazel and Raymond Chapman on October 11, 1933, in Lander, Wyoming. She had true Wyoming frontier spirit and grit. Ruth grew up on her family's cattle ranch with her 3 brothers, and often rode a horse or walked to school before moving into town. After reaching her teens, she played piano in the family dance band. The Moonlight Serenader Orchestra played for dances at the Grange Hall. Ruth also enjoyed playing the tenor saxophone her freshman high school year, when Stanley Brooks arrived in Lander. He played the trumpet. The two soon discovered they had more than music in common. Stan and Ruth were married in 1953 and moved to California where Stan spent the rest of his four-year term with the U.S. Navy. While Stan completed his B.S. degree in Industrial Management at San Diego State College, Ruth worked several different office jobs. Their two children, Paul and Mary were born during this time.

In 1965, the family moved to Bremerton, Washington, where Stan was employed as an industrial engineer technician with the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Ruth worked as a teacher aide for three years, and then went on to earn her B.A. degree in Elementary Education and Business Secondary Education from the University of Washington in Seattle in December 1974. She taught 19 years as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher. In 1980 she taught as part of a teacher exchange program in Melbourne, Australia.

The family joined the Kitsap Mineral and Gem Society in 1969. Participation in the organization, including many rock hounding field trips, was a big part of their lives. Stan did lapidary work and Ruth made Ming trees and jewelry. Ruth was also very active in her church as a Youth Sponsor, as well as working as church librarian. She was a Girl Scout for ten years, and spent fifteen years in leadership roles, with lifetime membership since 1980. Other hobbies included square dancing, ceramics, playing the piano, community concerts, quilting, and travel. She and Stan enjoyed trips in their RV and spending time on their property overlooking Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains.

After 51 years of marriage, Stan passed away in 2004. In 2005 Ruth married Marvin Butler, a longtime friend from church and the RV group. They also did a lot of traveling, including a trip to Australia. They shared a loving and caring relationship. Both of their families were happy for the companionship Ruth and Marvin shared. In 2010, they moved to Kennewick to be closer to Ruth's family. Marvin passed away in 2018 shortly after his 100th birthday.

Ruth will be remembered as someone who enjoyed teaching and helping others. Many of the quilts she made for their special occasions are cherished possessions of friends and family.

Ruth is survived by her son Paul Brooks and wife Marlaine Mars of Grandview, WA; her daughter Mary Howard and husband Phillip Howard of Klamath Falls, OR; 6 grandchildren: Joshua (Christy) Brooks, Sandra Wilson (Bill) of Kennewick; Ben Howard (Rachel), Anna Parkin (Joshua), John (Marie) Howard, Rebekah (Cameron) Livermore, and 15 great-grandchildren. Her extended Butler family includes Marvin's sons John (Esther) Butler and Russell Butler, 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 11 at the Lewis Funeral Chapel in Bremerton at 2 P.M., with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ruth's name to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.