Ruth Shy Wilson

Ruth Shy Wilson, 84, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in Colorado.

A memorial Mass and celebration of her life were held Feb. 8, in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Mrs. Wilson was born Oct. 3, 1929, near Packwood, the daughter of Erven and Mattie Bray Shy. She married Clarence Wilson in 1978. He died in 2007.

She graduated in 1948 from Packwood High school

After graduation from high school she moved to Denver to join her older sisters and to work with them at Strauss Fancy Food and Gift store.

She attended classes with the Jesuits at Regis College, now Regis University, where she received her bachelor?s degree and was one of the first female graduates.

In 1955, she decided to become a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She served in various teaching assignments in schools in Kansas City, Englewood and Littleton, Colo., for the next 15 years. She was known as Sister Mary Raphaline and later, as Sister Mary Ruth.

She left the community in the early 1970s. She moved to California and earned a master?s of arts degree at the University of San Diego.

She and her husband cherished their time together farming, traveling, hosting foreign teachers and students, volunteering, participating in local politics and playing tennis.

In 2008, she moved back to Colorado where three of her sisters lived.

She made a commitment to become an associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

She was active in the University Hills Rotary Club because of its activities related to education, polio eradication, micro credit lending efforts and world peace.

Survivors include one sister, Edith Archer of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; one twin brother, Roy Shy of Escondido, Calif.; and two step-children, Robert Wilson and Margo Wilson.