Obituary of Ruth Cushman

In 1942, when Ruth was eight years old, her parents decided to move out of the burgeoning city to a smaller town where they could turn their love of gardens into a business.  The family (including the family of some of their closest cousins) moved to Hurricane in southern Utah. The family purchased a tract of land with peach trees which they expanded into a large mixed fruit orchard. It was these early experiences, learning from her father, that led Ruth to love gardens throughout her life. 

After her junior year in high school, the family relocated to Ashland Oregon for better employment opportunities. Ruth attended her senior year at Ashland High School. The highlight of her senior year was her participation in a theatrical group which performed for local community organizations.  

In 1952, Ruth met Leonard "Corky" Cushman a few days after his discharged from the Army, after having served in Germany. They were married later that Fall and continued to love each other for the rest of their lives together.  From 1954 until 1968, Ruth and Leonard lived for the most part on the Oregon Coast (Newport, followed by Gold Beach and Port Orford.)  In Port Orford, together Leonard and Ruth began a company that supplied jewelry highlighting the beauty of the Oregon Coast, for the tourist trade. Throughout their lives together, Ruth's favorite weekend hobby was going on road adventures with Leonard and their children, exploring little known, and seldom traveled, trails along the Oregon coast.  Ruth's children, and grandchildren, have inherited their parent's admiration for the wonders of the natural world.

Ruth is also preceded in death by: her older siblings, Vern Pulsipher, Von Pulsipher and Nola (Felt), and by her sons, James Leonard Cushman and Jeffrey Holloway Cushman. Ruth is survived by: her younger sister, Ella Tobiasson  (Salem OR )  and by her children: Janet Lewis (Eufala AL ) Joy Robinson (North Augusta SC), Joan Maeola (Beckley VA ) Janine Cushman (McMinnville OR ) and Jay Cushman (Folsom CA.) Ruth leaves behind a growing posterity. At the time of Ruth's death, her family includes fourteen nieces and nephews, plus sixteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  

A Celebration of Ruth's Life was held at noon on Sunday, July 10th by family and friends at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Amity, Oregon. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to each of the family and friends who were so supportive of Ruth during these last years of her life. This last photo of Ruth was taken by her daughter, Janine Cushman.  Garden gloves pulled off, Ruth swings in her lawn chair, enjoying an ice cream bar in her meticulously maintained and beloved garden - two days before she passed away.