Ruth "Pat" Christian
Ruth “Pat” Christian, 96 years of age, passed away peacefully in her home in Sun Lakes, Arizona on Feb. 3, 2022. She was born in Glenrock on Oct. 24, 1925, to Grace (Hutchinson) Smith and Lloyd “Doc” Smith. She lived her childhood years on the family ranch near Keeline.
Pat graduated from Manville High School in Wyoming in 1943. This was during WWII and she entered nursing school as an Army Nurse Corp trainee. She finished her first year of training at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado and then went home on summer vacation and married John Christian in August 1944. When asked about her education she would always say she’s on summer break. John and Pat had two children, son, Dr. Chris Christian who preceded her in death in 1997 and daughter Mikell Christian of Sun Lakes, Arizona.
Pat and John were cattle ranchers on Duck Creek Ranch near Node for many years. She loved ranch life and was always at home on horseback working cattle.
She moved to Nampa, Idaho in the early 1980s to be closer to her son Chris and his family. She lived here until 2003 when she moved with her daughter, Mikell to Colorado and then later to San Antonio. She lived the remaining years of her life with her daughter and moved to Phoenix in 2011 where she enjoyed the company of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was also able to spend the last decade of her life with many fun filled visits from her brother, Jim Smith and his son, Jay and wife Vicki from Valley Center, California.
Pat, “Mom” loved nature and being outdoors. She especially loved horses and took her last horseback ride in 2019 at the age of 93 in Phoenix. She was very proud of her dog grooming business aptly named The Soft Touch which she operated out of her son Chris’s veterinary clinic in Nampa. Mom was also an avid reader who read the Wall Street Journal every day and three to four books on her Kindle each week.
In addition to her daughter, Mikell, Pat is survived by her daughter-in-law, Keri Christian of Phoenix, granddaughter, Barbara (Chris) Wimmer of Chandler, Arizona, grandson, Eric (Tracy) Christian of Battle Ground, Wash., granddaughter, Jennifer (Ernie) Gammons of Gilbert, Arizona, five great grandchildren: Larissa (Jordan) Scott, McKenna (Brian) Cross, John Christian, Christian Gammons and Katie Gammons, Nephew Jay (Vicki) Smith and their family.
Mom (Grammy Pat, Aunt Pat) brought great joy to her family and close friends. She was a true patriot, loved her country, her family and life. She will be missed greatly by those who knew and loved her.
A private celebration of life was held at her home on Feb. 5 with all of her immediate family. A final farewell and celebration will take place in Lusk in early June.
Images & Attachments
Related/Linked Records
Record Type | Name | |
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Obituary | Christian, Chris (06/25/1945 - 03/01/1997) | View Record | Cemetery Record | CHRISTIAN, RUTH | View Record |