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Page 3 of the Tribute, put together by Ruth's family, and read
by Bryan Miller, at the end of the Requiem Mass in
St Mary's Church, Inverness, on Monday 12 January 2026
Their second son, Simon, was born in 1978 in Aberdeen, but it was after visiting their friends Ian and Mary on the Black Isle that they decided this was where they would like to settle, and in 1980 they moved to Inverness where they completed their family when their daughter Mary was born. Ruth was very happy when her wee girl, Mary, was born. Len had become Rector of St Michael and All Angels where they spent 31 very happy years in the large Rectory raising their family... along with rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, fish, and of course their geese - George, Jemima and Rosie and many goslings. Many of the large goose eggs were blown and decorated by Ruth and anyone else who wanted to join in.
Ruth worked her whole adult life, from summers in hotels on the west coast while she was a student. She did this so that she could afford to buy her own sewing machine, an expensive Bernina, which still works and has been used by children and grand-children in recent years running her own embroidery design businesses which has seen her produce unique designs going all around the world. She especially enjoyed her time working with Mary, Rachel and Lauren.
Ruth was taught to sew by her mother when she was 10 and passed on her skills to her children, grandchildren, friends and many others, including most recently Brother Patrick at Pluscarden Abbey. She really enjoyed teaching him to begin to develop skills in vestment making.
She was always so giving of her time and sharing of her talents, but also loved giving handmade gifts, I'm not sure how many baby play mats are out there, but there are quite a few.
Ruth was a wonderful mother who taught us so much, she was selfless, practical, loving and supportive. We all have many happy memories with her, especially those of camping trips when we were young, fishing in the sea from our little dinghy, then gutting and cooking the fish we caught for dinner. She would make most of our clothes, even shell-suits in the 80s, ballet tu-tus (for Mary!) or anything that was needed. She would also paint the most amazing scenes on our bedroom walls for us, and encouraged creativity and hard work in all of us.
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