Ruby Irene Wakeling

My mother, Ruby Irene Gubler Wakeling, was the third youngest of eleven children. Due to a form of epilepsy, my mom was persecuted during her growing-up years and throughout her lifetime by inconsiderate, unkind, and cruel people. My mom graduated from Lund High School in Lund, Nevada, and went on to graduate from the University of Nevada in Reno, Nevada, earning a teaching degree. She taught for several years around the area of Lund. My mom was highly intelligent and extremely hard working during her life time. She planted a large garden every year and purchased fruit from the Fruit Peddler when he would come to town. Then she would start canning these items during the hot summer and fall months.

Every Monday was her wash-day whether it was rain or shine or during the extreme cold winter months. She washed our clothes by heating up a large tub of boiling hot water over an open fire. Then she would run the clothes through a hand-ringer, rinse them, and run the clothes through the hand-ringer one more time; now they were ready to be hung out on the clothes line. Then she would start another load of clothes as she always washed the diapers first, then went on to the colored clothing, and last, but not least, the work clothes. My mom, also, made her own wash soap out of lye and lard.

Along with her washing, my mom made sure we had a good, healthy meal to eat in the evening. She would always make a pot of beans as they took so long to cook, letting them simmer all day, along with rice pudding or a fruit cobbler. During the week my mom would make home-made bread to go along with her delicious meals. She would let my brother, David, and myself make cakes, and or cookies, every day as long as we cleaned up our mess – which we did! She was so patient with us.

When my mom made taffy for us, we would have a taffy pull; her taffy would turn out so beautiful, airy, and light. For the rest of us, our taffy was a pathetic sight, but it sure tasted good! Also, every summer, my mom would make a batch or two of homemade root beer – what a treat that was! My mom was an excellent and gifted seamstress; making our clothing out of hand-me-downs, especially my brother’s suits.

Not only did my mom make us mind, but made sure we went to school, Sunday School, and took time out to help us with our homework, along with reading a story to us every evening before bedtime.

After we moved to Reno, Nevada, in 1957 is when my mom’s affliction started taking a turn for the worse. Due to the progressively strong medications my mom was treated with over the years for her illness, they caused severe health problems. First, she gradually lost her talkative, bubbly personality. Secondly, she started losing some of her short-term memory. Thirdly, she wasn’t able to function properly as far as walking or moving around.

Unfortunately, these strong medications destroyed some of her vital organs and her life.  Although my mom was mistreated and shunned during her lifetime, she held her head high and never spoke an unkind word against anyone!

SOURCE: Find A Grave.com -- written by Ranae Wakeling Truitt, her daughter