Ruth Audrey Sommers Wanless

Born Dec 10 1924, passed away quietly in her sleep Dec 28, 2016. Predeceased by her husband Cliff, daughter Allene, & son Harvey. Survived by her daughter Audrey & son-in-law Kees, daughter-in-law Vicki Wanless, son Murray & daughter-in-law Mary Ellen; grandchildren Cory (Erika) Ferguson,Shannon (Scott) Ferguson, Megan (Rodger) Leach, Dana (Tristan) Tang, Craig (Candice) Wanless, Ali (Ian) Stanwood, Ryan (Lisa) Wanless, Liam Wanless, Kyle (Kelsey) Wanless, & Sean Wanless; and 13 great-grandchildren & numerous nieces & nephews. Also survived by her sister Jean. Ruth was the older of 2 daughters born to Harry & Adena Sommers in Fernie BC.
Ruth grew up for many years, with her sister Jean, in Blairmore Alberta, where she attended school from grades 1-6. The family moved to Castlegar where Ruth graduated from school & attended Nelson Business College. Ruth was always very involved with her Church - from teaching Sunday School, to playing the organ & assisting the choir, to acting as treasurer for some years. Ruth had a love for music, teaching piano lessons for many years. She met Cliff in Castlegar when they joined the same dance band. Ruth played piano & Cliff the drums. They eventually married in 1944 & continued to live in Castlegar. Ruth became a very accomplished homemaker - baking, canning, sewing, knitting etc. She won many many blue ribbons at the Fall Fairs. She was an avid card player & loved a game of crib or bridge. Ruth & Cliff eventually moved to Victoria in 1962. There she continued to raise her family of 4 children in the community of Esquimalt. She started working at the YMCA as full-time bookkeeper & stayed on until her retirement in 1987. She began to golf while in Victoria & she & Cliff joined the Glen Meadows Golf Club. They went on many golf vacations with different friends through the years. Ruth even got a Hole-In-One at Cedar Hill Golf Course!! Her family meant the world to her. She hosted many family gatherings through the years - never failing to offer the best food & lots of laughs!! She never hesitated to help with the grandchildren - often taking them for several days so Moms & Dads could get away. Ruth lived a very full 92 years! There will be a Celebration of Life Feb 4 at 11:00AM at St. Paul's United Church Sidney, BC with a tea following.

Celebration of Life