Sharon Ruff

Sharon R. (McGowan) Ruff was born on January 17, 1935, in Pendleton, Oregon to Martha Muriel Hodgkins McGowan and Vern McGowan. Sharon grew up helping with the family farm and going to school, where her father was the principal. She attended Oregon State University, where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and graduated in 1952.
She met her late husband Kenneth (Ken) R. Ruff in 1961 while teaching at Irvington H.S. in California. They married in1962. Ken came with three children, Kenneth R., Jr. (Rick), Sharon (Shari) and Kelly. After a short stint in Vancouver, B.C., they moved to Long Beach, California, where their son Michael was born in 1967.
In 1970, the family moved to Clarendon Hills, IL. In 1977 Sharon joined Bloomquist & Company of Oakbrook, IL as a writer.
When she wasn't working, Sharon loved to garden and work with the school Boosters. She joined the family in karate and reached the rank of purple belt in Shotokan. She became quite adept at using the psi, and even earned some trophies at local competitions.
Sharon and Ken retired to Independence, Oregon in 1997, taking over Sharon's grandparent's farmhouse along with 20 acres. They spent most of their summers camping with family by the Santiam River.
Sharon and Ken did their fair share of traveling in their almost 50 years of marriage, going to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Sharon and Ken moved into Capital Manor, in Salem in 2011. Sharon enjoyed helping others on her floor with decorating the hallways for each holiday.
Sharon was preceded in death by both parents, her husband, and her brother Scott. Survivors include her brother Ladd (Lanette) of Washington, son Kenneth Jr. (Aleksandra) of California, daughter Sharon (Bruce) Cohen of Illinois, daughter Kelly (Todd) Moxley of Illinois, son Michael (Colleen) of Michigan, 7 grandchildren and more than 10 great-grandchildren.