Ruth Arlene (Frary) Tuthill, 93, lay to rest Wednesday June 19, 2024, at her home in North Pomfret, VT surrounded by family.

Born February 4, 1931, in Randolph, VT, daughter of Adrian Wallace Frary, Sr. and Violet Doris (Lovejoy) Frary. She grew up in South Royalton where she graduated from high school a year early; Class of 1948 Valedictorian. In her Class Will, she left her "high marks to anyone willing to work for them". This was followed by Nursing Programs at UVM, Heaton, and Johnson. She left college to marry Frank 'Gordon' Tuthill. They settled in North Pomfret, where  Mrs. Tuthill remained and proudly raised their eleven children, even after their divorce. Ruth retired from Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, after a 24 year career as an X-Ray File Clerk.

As a child she got up early and helped with chores before going to school. She had to walk about 4 miles (uphill both ways). She sometimes skied to school after snow storms, also took her sled to go down the hills.  This meant that she had to pull it up the hills.

She was a prolific reader and from the birth of her children through the four generations that followed, she shared this passion, often reciting verses from memory. Quite memorable was the bedtime prayer she taught and recited with the children every evening as she tucked them in, with many reciting this with their children and grandchildren today… this prayer was recited at her bedside as she passed.

A magnificent baker, she made all the bread, jams, and cookies that filled her children's lunch pails throughout the years. She baked cupcakes for special school events, dozens of her rolls for the community Strawberry and Turkey suppers, and every Easter baked and decorated hundreds of special Easter Bunny sweet rolls for family and close friends!

Ruth took wonderful pictures of her children, which often included the neighbors' children as well who spent a lot of time at her house. One such neighbor was visiting the area and stopped by recently, delighted to see the family still living here, reminiscing of the wonderful time she had playing with all the children sixty-five years ago.

Pictured: Ruth reading to the first 7 of her and Gordon's 11 children in 1958.

She always had an open-door policy, never locking her door in the seventy years she lived in her home, she felt no matter who the children brought in, they were "safer here, than out there". She was sure to provide food to whoever and however many sat at her table, portions may not have been hefty, but no one ever went without. Most memorably, Saturday night kettles of Goulash, and Sunday kettles of Stew in winter and her signature Potato Salad in summer, all with stacks of homemade bread which she continued to make weekly until recent months. She always kept a full fresh-baked container of chocolate chip cookies, earning her the nickname, "Cookie Grammy". A woman of many talents, she would sew clothes, and knitted amazing mittens, hats, and sweaters with skillful designs, especially the children's.

The sound of children playing and family/ friends conversing in her home was music to her ears.  Holidays consisted of potluck family gatherings, and birthdays she prepared special handmade decorated cakes. She taught love, respect and gratitude and reminded us that no matter how hard we may have it, someone always has it worse. That family should always come first, and even being such a large family – she succeeded, as we are tight knit and well- rounded.  As a hard-working, sleep-deprived, devoted single mother, with boisterous children, she never complained and always maintained her patience and kind hearted demeanor.

Just like her father, she tended a large vegetable garden as well as perfect flower gardens; neighbors reminisce that she'd always pause to smile and wave as they passed by, they exhibited concern when she was not out there more than a day.

Ruth never failed to send birthday, holiday, and special occasion cards, not only to her family, but her friends as well. She kept with current events, reading the daily and weekly newspapers front to back (never to miss her comics and horoscope), and watching Channel 3 news. She read many publications regularly as well: Reader's Digest, National Geographic, People,  Consumer Magazine, and various Medical journals and reports. Her favorite stories were those of her own family, standing strong for matters they were passionate about, and them advocating for others. As frugal as she was, she was a believer in philanthropy and contributed to causes dear to her.

Well known to her community as Gram "Tut", she often attended Senior lunches put on by the students of the 'New' Pomfret elementary school, now known as the Prosper School.

Ruth loved animals, and often neighbors' cats seemed to adopt her, and forget to go home.

Leaving a legacy of 74 direct descendants; she is survived by six sons, Bruce  (Diana) of Pomfret, Andrew  (Marcy) of Colorado Springs CO, James  (Margaret) of Candler, NC, Phillip  (Rhona) of South Royalton, VT, Gregory  (Shelly) of North Pomfret, VT and Douglas  (Christina) of North Pomfret, VT. Five daughters; Susan Carver (Michael) of Bradford, NH, Cynthia Duval (Robert) of Randolph, VT, Sandra Filiault (Carl) of North Pomfret, Sara Tuthill (James Stulz) of Sharon, VT and Mary Ambler of Ventura, CA; 24 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; a sister Carolyn (Frary) Boone (Dan) of Randolph, VT and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mrs. Tuthill was predeceased by her parents, her former husband, their eldest grandson, Mark A. Tuthill; a brother, Adrian W. Frary, Jr. and a sister, Dorothy Frary.

Per Ruths' wishes, the Family will hold a private burial, followed by a Celebration of Life at a later date.

Condolences to Ruth's family may be made in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com

Donations in Ruths' Memory may be made to the Abbott Memorial Library, 15 Library Street, South Pomfret VT 05067; The South Royalton Library, 57 Safford St., South Royalton, VT 05068 (Ruth's Ancestor, Aunt Evelyn M. Lovejoy, founded this in 1917); or The Pomfret Volunteer Fire & Fast Dept., 7373 Pomfret Rd., North Pomfret, VT 05053.