Ruth E. Shay
July 29, 1927 ~ June 20, 2025
Born in:
Cooperstown, Pennsylvania
Resided in:
Cooperstown, Pennsylvania
Ruth E. Shay, 97, died Friday morning, June 20, 2025 at the Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center of Wesbury Retirement Community, Meadville. At the time of her passing, Ruth was under the care of Hospice of Crawford County, and her daughter Judith was by her side.
Born Ruth Evelyn Brown, July 29, 1927, at the home of her parents, Fred R. and Frances (Rice) Brown, in Jackson Township, Venango County, she was the youngest of her siblings and was raised to adulthood on the Brown family farm south of Sugar Lake on Lake Creek Road.
Ruth attended one-room rural grade schools in Venango County and graduated from Cochranton High School with the class of 1944. She continued her education at the former Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated in 1948, and subsequently obtained certification as a Registered Nurse.
On August 28, 1948, Ruth married Homer D. Shay, who preceded her in death on May 26, 2021.
Ruth was employed by the former Franklin Hospital and later, after twenty years of service as a nurse at the former Venango Manor, she took her retirement from the nursing profession in 1991.
Surviving are four children, Fred Shay (Patsy) of Pittsburgh, Ralph Shay (Deborah) of San Antonio, TX, Ronald Shay (Darlene) of Cochranton, and Judith Shay of Meadville, as well as eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and siblings Ina Mae Kean, Elmer Brown, Raymond Brown, Myrtle Hines, and infant brother Myron Brown.
Ruth was a baptized member of the Sugar Lake Evangelical United Brethren Church, where she and Homer were married. Following their marriage, Homer and Ruth were faithful members of the Donation Hill Evangelical United Brethren Church. For many years, beginning in 1967, and until recently, Ruth attended McDaniels Corners Bible Church where her Christian faith was nourished and where she had many friends.
Ruth enjoyed researching and documenting family history, gardening, caring for her home and most of all, caring for her family. She especially enjoyed preparing and serving meals for countless family gatherings at her home near Cooperstown on Lake Creek Road.
The funeral service will be held at the McDaniels Corners Bible Church, 7175 Hwy 173, Cochranton, PA 16314 on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 11 a.m. Arrangements are under the care of Gardinier-Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, PA.
Interment will be in the family plot at the Cooperstown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to McDaniels Corners Bible Church, 7175 PA 173, Cochranton, PA 16314, or The Wesbury Foundation, 31 Park Avenue, Meadville, PA 16335.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Robert’s Book of Memories online at Warrenh.FH.com.
Services
Funeral Service: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 11:00 am
McDaniels Corners Church
7175 PA Hwy 173
Cochranton, Pennsylvania 16314
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Ruth E. Shay 's name.
Wesbury Foundation’s Benevolent Care Fund
31 Park Avenue
Meadville,
Pennsylvania
16335
Memories Timeline
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Dear Ron and family;
I’m so very sorry to read of your Mothers passing. May she rest in peace and may God give all of you comfort during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Judy
So sorry to hear about your mother but glad we had a chance to get together. Know that prayers & thoughts are going your way.
Aunt Ruth was a wonderful human being that will never be duplicated. She and Homer, from humble beginnings, forged a life that that touched many people in a positive way. Always self reliant, considerate and generous with others.
Ruth was still at the family farm when I was born in 45’. So, she probably helped me learn to walk and talk, and may have changed my diapers. For 80 years she called me Willy and I admired her so much.
As a young lad, I watch Ruth and Homer build their home on Lake Creek Road stick by stick. They then added children and planted a garden. Homer and Ruth as a team made it all flourish. Ruth, Homer, the three bums and Judy would visit the family farm frequently for milk and eggs, usually while my dad and I were milking the cows.
I will miss Ruth’s birthday and Christmas cards, but will always remember what a caring, wonderful and generous person she was. She and Homer were wonderful Christian role models for all of us to emulate.
Aunt Ruth was a wonderful human being that will never be duplicated. She and Homer, from humble beginnings, forged a life that that touched many people in a positive way. Always self reliant, considerate and generous with others.
Ruth was still at the family farm when I was born in 45’. So, she probably helped me learn to walk and talk, and may have changed my diapers. For 80 years she called me Willy and I admired her so much.
As a young lad, I watch Ruth and Homer build their home on Lake Creek Road stick by stick. They then added children and planted a garden. Homer and Ruth as a team made it all flourish. Ruth, Homer, the three bums and Judy would visit the family farm frequently for milk and eggs, usually while my dad and I were milking the cows.
I will miss Ruth’s birthday and Christmas cards, but will always remember what a caring, wonderful and generous person she was. She and Homer were wonderful Christian role models for all of us to emulate.
Aunt Ruth was a wonderful human being that will never be duplicated. She and Homer, from humble beginnings, forged a life that that touched many people in a positive way. Always self reliant, considerate and generous with others.
Ruth was still at the family farm when I was born in 45’. So, she probably helped me learn to walk and talk, and may have changed my diapers. For 80 years she called me Willy and I admired her so much.
As a young lad, I watched
Ruth and Homer build their home on Lake Creek Road stick by stick. They then added children and planted a garden. Homer and Ruth as a team made it all flourish. Ruth, Homer, the three bums and Judy would visit the family farm frequently for milk and eggs, usually while my dad and I were milking the cows.
I will miss Ruth’s birthday and Christmas cards, but will always remember what a caring, wonderful and generous person she was. She and Homer were wonderful Christian role models for all of us to emulate.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Ruth Shay. She was a woman of God that leaves a legacy of strong Christian faith in the generations that followed. May the peace of our Lord be with you and comfort you at this time. Besides praying for you we will be giving a memorial donation to McDaniels Corners Bible Church in memory of Ruth.
Sincerely,
Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in America
3973 PA Route 257
Seneca, PA 16346
I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the loss of your beloved mother and grandmother. For a long time, I knew “Mrs. Shay” as the mother of one of my classmates. When I worked at Venango Manor while attending college, I got to know “Mrs. Shay” as a person. Your mother / grandmother was a wonderful woman who loved her family dearly and lived her faith each and every day of her life. She was an excellent nurse… a consummate professional who took care of her patients with kindness and compassion. In her own quiet way, she truly made a difference in people’s lives and will never be forgotten. Sending my thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathy to you and your family at this sad and difficult time… Wishing you comfort and peace as you remember the happy times you shared…
Sincerely,
Rosalyn (Walker) Miller