Obituary of Ruth Smith Mason

Mrs. Ruth Smith Mason, daughter of the late Will Smith and D'Sylvia Henry Smith, departed from this life at the age of 85 on Monday morning, March 3, 2014, after five days in hospice care at the Union Printers Home in Colorado Springs, ColoradoRuth was born on June 25, 1928, in Spring Hill, Alabama. Home schooled by her mother, she later attended Spring Hill Baptist Church and School, and graduated valedictorian in high school in Greenville, Alabama. She later attended Baltimore City Community College in Maryland. While working in Birmingham, Alabama, she met and married James Lee Owens, and from that union of six years, three children born. Ruth later moved to Baltimore Maryland, where she met and married Sonnie Mason, and from that union another child was born. In Maryland, Ruth worked for Rosewood State Hospital at Owings Mills and the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women at Jessup, where she retired as a correctional officer. She also worked as a domestic and entrepreneur selling products for Avon, Sarah Coventry Jewelry, and Amway. After retiring from Corrections, she opened and ran her own group homes for seniors and persons with disabilities. In 1984 she and her husband, Sonnie, moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to be near their only grandchild at that time. In Colorado, they also became the foster parents to their three cousins from Baltimore. There, Ruth worked at Beth Haven, a residential group home for persons with disabilities and enjoyed a second retirement. She continued to pursue her entrepreneurial endeavors while working as a domestic and owning a flea market until the age of 82. After the loss of her husband, Ruth became a member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs.Throughout her life, Ruth was very opinionated, and most of the time she was right. She loved family and rarely missed a wedding or funeral. She would travel anywhere anytime. She enjoyed cooking southern delicacies from her garden, fishing, coordinating family get-togethers at state parks, talking on the phone with her siblings, and debating with anyone who would engage her.Ruth was a statuesque young woman who loved dressing up. She loved new cars, enjoyed Sam Cooke's music, and playing pinochle. Ruth was also a very a loving woman who never denied her family. She was quick to learn, quick to love, and was compassionate to all. She took care of her children and felt fortunate to have them with her through her lifetime. She raised them to be hard workers, encouraging life-long learning, purchasing books and games for their home, and taking them to visit historical sites. In later years, her favorite saying, "Whatcha talkin' bout, Willis?" gained her notoriety amongst her new friends at Union Printers Home. Ruth Mason leaves to mourn: A brother, Arthur Smith of Baltimore, Maryland; a sister-in-law, Rubia Smith of Baltimore; a son, Jerry Lee Owens of Baltimore; two daughters, Bessie Yvonne Owens Everett of Baltimore, and Gwendolyn Faye Stokes of Colorado Springs, Colorado; a son, Sean Alex Mason of Denver, Colorado; a son-in-law, Lester Benjamin Stokes of Colorado Springs; a daughter in law, Jeri Judkins Mason of Denver; and three grandchildren, Warren Anthony Stokes, of Denver ; Jabari Marc Weathers of Baltimore and Jimaya Ann Mason of Denver; a granddaughter-in-law, Shana Janel l Stokes of Denver; three great grandsons, Warren Anthony Jr, Markus Xavier, and Darren Alexander Stokes of Denver; three foster cousins Vertino Charles Yeldon, Charles Noel Yeldon, and James Lee Harrington; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Friday, March 28, 2014 10:00AM Union Printers Hall 101 S. Union Boulevard Colorado Springs, CO 80910 Phone: 719-328-1793