Ruth Evelyn Cameron

August 2, 1937 - July 19, 2019
Ruth Evelyn Cameron, affectionately called "Crazy Grandma" passed away on Friday, July 19, 2019. Ruth handled her cancer diagnosis as she did everything in her life, head-on with zest and zeal, while bringing a smile to all those around her.
Ruth was born in Camrose, Alberta and as the last of four children, she came as a surprise to her parents Kamilla and Fred Knudsen. As if her unexpected arrival was a future indicator of her personality, Ruth loved surprises, good jokes and a long laugh!
Ruth grew up in Daysland a small farming community and while she had many friends there, she couldn't wait to head off to the big city of Edmonton. There she met and fell in love with a handsome young man with a shiny new car, who had a passion for airplanes and travel. Marriage quickly followed and by the time she was 30 she was the mother of four (Karen, Kathy, Krista and Keith) and living in Tsawwassen. Ruth was a home decorator before the term was coined, every place she lived from trailers, houses, apartments, townhouses and condos were beautifully decorated on a shoe string budget. She could often be found at her sewing machine, happily creating anything from clothing to drapes to recovering chairs.
A stay-at-home mom, Ruth didn't enter the work force until all her children were in high school. She had started working at a fish and chip shop, then a fish store and as her confidence grew she started working full-time at Woodwards and was there until the day it closed and she was the last one to lock the office door. Her final job was as a bill collector for Waste Management and she was able to put her keen observation and detective skills to work to track down delinquent accounts!
While working, in 1976 Ruth started a craft business and for years she created handcrafted Christmas ornaments and decorations that she sold at local craft fairs with her two daughters Krista and Karen. The work grew and soon she was exhibiting at Circle Craft, a five day event held at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. Her craft business brought her great joy as she spent the entire year coming up with ideas and then creating the designs. She was so proud that she cut all her own wood with her saw and "still had all her ten fingers!" In addition to making crafts, Ruth and her daughter Krista also ran a successful craft show at the East Delta Hall.
In later years, many happy days were spent with friends and family trekking through thrift stores from White Rock to Chilliwack where Ruth exhibited her keen eye for beauty and a bargain! As the Social Director for her condo Ruth was always on the look out for seasonal decorations for her events, creating an atmosphere of fun was always a priority and in addition to the decorations, she always had a joke (or two) at the ready.
Ruth had many friends and enjoyed many trips to craft fairs and country music festivals (with her as the driver). She also attended aqua fitness three times a week and that was one thing she really missed as her cancer advanced.
A great story teller and jokester, Ruth actually won a joke-off competition at a comedy club in Vancouver, with the grand prize of a trip to DisneyWorld making a great grad gift for son Keith.
Ruth felt that life was better when you cry a little, laugh a lot and are thankful for everything you've got. She could often be heard saying "if today is hard, know tomorrow will be better!"
When her granddaughter Melissa was about four, she started to say "Crazy Grandma". Well that name stuck and everyone (not just her grandchildren) called her that. Why "crazy"? Melissa explains "She was a crazy talented crafter, a crazy good cook, and had a crazy sense of humour. She was crazy strong, determined, and most important of all crazy about her friends and family."
Heaven must have been short on some jokes and laughter and called upon Ruth. For our family that is left behind with so many wonderful memories, there are happy tears. We miss you Crazy Grandma!
Ruth is survived by her four children; Karen (Gary) Booy, Kathy Cameron (John Griffith), Krista (Harold) Thibaudier and Keith (Kammy) Cameron. Grandchildren: Jesse Wierzbowski, Melissa, Ryan and Jenny Thibaudier. Riley and Reese Cameron. Ruth was blessed to meet her first great grandson Cam Peter Snow who arrived early on April 24, 2019 just to be sure he didn't miss her!
You know all those things you've always wanted to do?
You should do them!
And.....leave them laughing!
A Celebration of Life for Ruth will be held August 24th at 1 at The Harris Barn 4140 Arthur Drive, Ladner.