Ruth Hester Cassity

Hester Ruth Virginia Dare Stump Cassity, 90, of Crab Orchard, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Hidden Valley in Oak Hill, after a short illness. Ruth had been a resident of Mary’s Garden for seven years and Hidden Valley for three months. She enjoyed and appreciated the love and care of many wonderful caregivers. (Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the many kindnesses shown. You have become family! God Bless You!)

Born March 3, 1921 in Fitzpatrick, WV, she was the daughter of the late William E. and Rebecca Luzenia Bare Stump. Ruth was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 47 years, Charley Cassity; grandchildren, Ginny Sue Cassity Allison and Chuck Cassity; sisters, Maude and Lucy Stump, Sybil DeHart, Florence Lilly, Nora O’Cain, Dora DeHart, and Rachel Goodman; and brothers Elmer and Roy Stump.

Ruth was a loving wife, dedicated mother, and homemaker. While raising her children she was very active in the PTA and Homeroom Mothers. Ruth took great pleasure in being “Rucie, Suzie, or Pet Crow” while assisting Charley in creating multiple flower gardens and vegetable gardens, a fish pond, designing floral arrangements, singing, and dancing (Dad and Mom just seemed to float on a cloud! Heavenly to watch!). She adored being “Charley’s Prettiest Wife”! A most resourceful woman, she could create curtains to doll clothes or costumes and never miss a beat on all the regular stuff, like building a well house, or putting a roof on the garage!

Music was a passion; she enjoyed singing in the church quartet at Pemberton Methodist Church, with Daddy, Pa Rasco, and Curt Blevins, accompanied by Ma Rasco. She treasured her music collection and appreciated the musical skills of Glenn Miller, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Floyd Cramer, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Lawrence Welk, Frankie Lane, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Happy Goodman Family, and the Gaithers, among many others.

One of ten children in her own family, Ruth married into the Sam and Zanie Riddle Cassity family of seventeen children: Lelia, Diris, Vesta, Millard, Cletus, Hobert, Robert, James, Allie, Eddie, Arthur, Jewell, Frederick, Marceline, Kenneth, and Louise. She was never alone or lonely! (No wonder she was the most patient, generous, and thoughtful of women, while being independent and sassy!)
Ruth and Charley were also adopted children of the Rasco’s, Marvin and Maude, with two more sisters, Nell and Louise, and brother, Jack. Being “Aunt Ruth” was a blessing and she cherished her nieces and nephews, blood and adopted! In addition to her own three children, over the years she “adopted” children from the neighborhood, college, and beyond; they called her Granny, and she reveled in that too!

Although she did not complete a formal education for herself, she assisted her three children in obtaining their diplomas and degrees. Ruth was an avid reader, interested in many things. Ruth relished novels and mysteries, read and studied The Bible extensively, and devoured the poetry of “The Good Book” and the world! Because she loved a mystery she chose to watch Perry Mason, Angela Lansbury, and Matlock (the “grands” watched with her!) .

Known to her babies’ babies, as ‘Little Granny”, “Granny”, or “Granny Ruth”, she doted on her grandchildren and participated in everything from burying ants to racing cars; attending dance recitals, graduations, and ballgames of all kinds to drawing pictures and sculpting with clay or mud; playing cards and board games to reading stories and watching movies; playing pretend in a “Superman” bachelor pad or a “Fisher-Price” kitchen to coloring and hiding Easter eggs or decorating for Christmas; making fried pies, hotdogs, and subs for fund raisers to buying baskets, gift wrap, and other unneeded and unwanted items; actually playing football, baseball, soccer, dress up, grocery store, school, and princess to jumping in the leaves, swimming in the pool, sledding, and then eating marshmallows, making s’mores, chocolate chip, no bake cookies, or homemade ice cream. She loved every moment with each one and never uttered, “Maybe later, after I finish …”

Many friends, as well as family members, enjoyed Ruth’s delicious coffee and pie (chocolate, lemon, or butterscotch with meringue, “dream” or pecan, to name a few, plus those fried apple pies!) or cake (chocolate with whipped or peanut butter frosting); brown beans and cornbread; roast beef and potatoes with “brothly”, ribs and sauerkraut, biscuits and gravy, and coffee and cheese sandwiches. Ruth loved cooking for her immediate family and the large extended family and friends as well, the more the merrier!

Ruth was a true nature lover; she admired trees in particular and small woodland creatures, squirrels, and birds. Using her binoculars and Audubon Society book, she bird watched and identified her visitors. She was proud of West Virginia, the abundant mountains and rivers, and was always happiest when at home.

As a member of the Crab Orchard Missionary Baptist Church she enjoyed being a part of the Fellowship Sunday School Class and the “Tuesday” quilting group. She was grateful that her friends there came to visit, sent cards, delivered tapes, shared communion and prayers, and never forgot her.

Survivors include a son, Charles E. Cassity of Beckley; daughters, Patti Shirkey and husband, Ken of Ohio, and Marcy (Marceline) Lilly and husband Michael of Beckley; grandchildren Rick, Michael and Alex Shirkey and Matthew and Megan Lilly; great-grandchildren Amanda Gooslin, Jeremy Reagan, and Tanner Shirkey; great-great-grandchildren, Tyler and Alexis Gooslin and Braxton Reagan; sister-in-law Louise Shekell; numerous nieces and nephews and close friends John and Ellen Okes and Ann Toney.

Our Ruth, Mom, Granny, sister, Aunt Ruth, friend, will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her, but will never be forgotten! Thank you God, for the blessings of the life of Ruth and those blessed by that life!

Services will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, August 7, 2011 at the Calfee Funeral Home Chapel in Beckley with Dr. Chuck Pullins officiating. Friends may call on the family one hour prior to service. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be sent to The Alzheimer’s Association, 1111 Lee St. East, Charleston, WV 25301.

Online condolences may be left at www.calfeefh.com.
Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley.