Obituary of Ruthy Edwina Clark (Dickens)

Ruthy Edwina Clark (Dickens) passed away May 19, 2022, after an extended illness over the last two years. She is survived by five children (plus spouses) seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Plus nieces and nephews. Ruthy was the last surviving sibling.  She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and three siblings. Ruthy was born in Carrizo Springs, Texas; the family moved to Deming, New Mexico in 1952.  In 1956 Ruthy moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico with her spouse and there she became a stay at home mom to five rambunctious children. 

Later in her life she opened Clark’s Threadmill, a women's/girls apparel shop in Las Cruces and sold her own hand crafted southwest dresses, skirts and accessories.   To be close to her children and grand children she moved from Las Cruces to Chicago, then to Phoenix, back to Chicago, then Denver, then back to Phoenix and lastly Denver.  While living in Denver she worked as a seamstress and bridal consultant. She was always a seamstress, but decided being a bridal consultant was her forte.

Ruthy never met a stranger. She was an Angel loving mother and friend to countless people.  She took care of her children and family to the very end.  She traveled across country, with her little “pupper”, Ginger, her constant traveling companion, many times to be with her children when they needed her.  She was the most loving, fun, and humorous grandma (Mayma) to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved to play board games, card games, and dominoes.  Carrying on her parents tradition, every family gathering included card games, canasta mostly — everyone could join in.  She won most of the time. The last couple year's she loved playing BINGO and frequently won. At times the host would tell her she couldn't win anymore for that day to give others a chance to win. They played with quarters, which she saved and would donate back to the game. When cleaning out her belongings, the family found a cup full of quarters that they joyfully donated to the facility!!

She also loved puzzles. The family doesn’t even know how many puzzles she put together in her lifetime, too numerous to count. She also loved Soduko and many other word games — both paper and electronic.

Ruthy always put her family first,  except her relationship with her Savior was the most important to her. The journey she took wasn't always easy, the path hard at times, but she always knew she was doing the right thing because she always listened to Jesus and she knew He would be there to the very end.

Ruthy visited many of the western and mid-western states on vacations; always spending precious time with her family.  As a youngster, she had a dream of visiting Montana and Yellowstone that was sparked by reading a favorite edition of the National Geographic — at the age of 60 she felt like a kid again.  She took a Caribbean Cruise with family and friends and experienced life on the high-seas at the age of 66 — she had a grand time.  When Ruthy was 69 her kids took her on a “drive down memory lane” visiting many of the places she lived and shared fond memories in Carrizo Springs, Deming, Las Cruces and many stops on the way.

Her life will be celebrated in Las Cruces, New Mexico surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and desert where she raised her family.  Her ashes will be spread in the Organ mountains which hold’s so many wonderful memories for her and her family, per her wishes.  This private Life Celebration Ceromony with her family  will happen August 12th — which would've been her 85th birthday.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Ruthy Clark (Dickens), please visit our Tree Store