Our beloved mother, Isla Ruth Stuckey, 84, of Robinson, Texas, passed away at home, surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19 at Pecan Grove Funeral Home in Waco, Texas.
Ruth was born on March 25, 1932, on her family’s farm near Travis, Texas. She was the daughter of farmer Charles James Stuckey and teacher Nettie Eugenia Wallace Stuckey. She graduated from Rosebud High School in 1949. She achieved her status as a Registered Nurse in three years of training at Hillcrest Hospital nursing school in Waco, and attended biology and science courses at Baylor University through 1952. She had a successful career as a surgical and mental health nurse and a professional nursing supervisor for more than fifty years.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and her former husband, James Edward Knowles.
She is survived by her three children, Thomas W. Knowles of Bryan, Texas, Vicki Lynn Knowles of Waco, Texas, and Barbara Marie Knowles of Robinson, Texas; her sister Mary Virginia Stuckey Sharp and her brother Charles Wallace Stuckey of Rosebud, Texas; her grandchildren Robert James Knowles, Daniel Knowles, Alan Sword, Angela Swayer, Jacob Vande Veegate, and Brie Nodal, and eight great-grandchildren. Her niece, Patricia Ruth Sharp, will sing a song of her own composition based on 1 Corinthians 13 at the service.
She will be remembered by her colleagues, friends, and family not only for her caring and service to all, but for her love of music, dancing, and children.
Her family thanks the staff of Texas Home Health for their assistance.
From your daughter, Barbara: “You died on a Friday, our favorite day. I will forever miss you. I hope you are with the ones that have left before. Tell them I love and miss them always and can never forget. Fly high, chase trains and always win. I love you. Never goodbye … you are always with me.”
From your daughter, Vicki: “To my wonderful, beautiful Mom—I miss you, I love you, and you will always be in my heart.”
From your son, Tom: “Fly on, with our love, over the white, silver-cloud plain under a swift sunrise, to the far, fair green country that awaits you.”
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13