Obituary: Ella Ruth McDonald Osguthorpe

Ella Ruth McDonald Osguthorpe 1918 ~ 2007 Ella Ruth McDonald Osguthorpe passed away from the effects of a streptococcus infection on January 23, 2007. She was born in Salt Lake City on December 19, 1918. She was the oldest child of Frank James and Ella Joy McCune McDonald. She was a descendent of William Clayton, a member of the 1847 vanguard company to reach the Salt Lake Valley, and Sarah Ann Walters, who walked the Great Plains with the first handcart company into Salt Lake City. Ruth attended Hawthorne Elementary, Irving Junior High and South High Schools. She went to work after graduating from high school in 1935 as a stenographer for Spring Canyon, Royal and Standard Coal Companies for the next six years. Ruth was an executive secretary most of her working life with the Union Pacific Railroad Employees Hospital Association. She worked there with her father who was Secretary/ Treasurer for the Association. She was an extremely capable woman and eventually became part of the management team there at a time when women seldom enjoyed such positions in a man's world. She retired from the railroad after 30 yrs. On Nov. 15, 1940 Ruth married Grover Leslie Ferris. They had three children, Stephen, David, and Lisa. They were divorced in 1966. Ruth married John Osguthorpe on July 14, 1979. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. They enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, and other places. Ruth will long be remembered for her love and devotion to her children, and to her grandchildren, Kirsten, Hadley, Victoria, Elliott, and Georgia. She was extraordinarily generous and kind-hearted. After a stroke later in life greatly limited her powers of speech, her generous impulses and loving nature became even more pronounced in compensation for her diminished verbal skills. Ruth was an exceptionally good cook. Her family especially remembers her lavishly prepared casseroles, jello salads, and spice cakes. She was always well groomed and smartly dressed in fancy, brightly colored high heels, hose, with matching skirts, blouses, and jewelry. One of her few self-indulgences was extreme bargain shopping. Ruth had a lively intellect and was especially interested in current events and politics. In her youth she was artistic and loved to paint. Preceding her in death are her parents, a sister, Gloria Cook (Hyrum), a brother, Kenneth McDonald (Carol), her son, David, and her infant daughter, Lisa. She is survived by her husband, John Osguthorpe, a sister, Beth Davis (Leo) of Salt Lake City; a brother, James Gaylan McDonald (Gratia) of Grass Valley, California; her son Stephen Ferris (Ilene) of Salt Lake City; and five grandchildren. She is also survived by her husband John's three children: David (Nancy) of Charleston, South Carolina; Barbara (Philip Curtiss) of Greensboro, North Carolina; and Nancy (James Edwards) of Greensboro; five grandchildren: Eric, Amy, Emily, Clarke, and James; and by John's sister, Renee (Bill Christensen) of Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Millcreek 2nd Ward located at 4220 South Jeannine Drive (420 East). A viewing will take place at 12:30 p.m. prior to services. Funeral Directors Larkin Mortuary. Thanks to all who attended her in her final days at Canyon Creek Assisted Living Center, with special thanks to Karen Chrysler; also to the nurses, doctors and staff at Cottonwood Hospital and Hillside Care Center.