Oma Ruth Curyea

Ruth Curyea, beloved Mom, Grandma, sister, teacher, and friend, passed away on February 23 in a loving McMinnville foster home, where she had lived for the past three years. Ruth was born on May 20, 1926 in Umatilla Co. Washington to Ruel and Vera Robinson, joining her older sister, Helen. The family soon moved to Panhandle Texas where she grew up. She graduated from West Texas State in May of 1947 and married the love of her life, George Stanley Curyea, one week later. In 1951 they moved from Texas to Monmouth OR where they adopted three older siblings who needed a home: Barbara (9), Dean (7), and Pat (5). In 1951 they purchased a large acreage where Stan farmed and raised sheep, and Ruth went to Linfield College to get her teaching degree. She taught at Dayton and Amity High Schools. She became the librarian at Amity High from 1967 to 1985. Her husband Stan died in 1982, but Ruth remained on the farm until 2010 when Alzheimer’s disease made it unsafe for her to live alone. Ruth loved children, birds, gardening, and flowers. She will always be remembered for her smiles, laughter, a listening ear, and her huge heart for helping others in ANY way she could. Ruth is survived by her three children and their spouses; Barbara (Harless) Marcom, Pat (Jim) Bingenheimer of McMinnville, and Dean (Lisa) Curyea of LaPine. Her sister, Helen Gordon of Corvallis, and her brother Bud Robinson of Portland also survive Ruth. The extended surviving family includes 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at the farmhouse at 3501 SW Redmond Hill Rd. on Sunday, March 14th at 2:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mid-Valley Workshop or Salvation Army in care of Macy & Son. To leave condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.