Ruth Deviney

A Private Celebration of Life for our beloved Mother and Grandmother, Ruth Deviney, will take place spring 2023. Our thanks to all who cared for her throughout the last few years of her full life in Baker and Arizona.

Ruth Deviney, 97, died the morning of Oct. 4th at her new home in Heritage Village in Mesa, AZ.

M. Ruth Deviney was born at home on her family’s cotton farm in McCurtain Co. Oklahoma. The closest town was Tom, which is the farthest town in SE Oklahoma.

Mamie Ruth Deviney and she wanted to be addressed as Ruth, was born on October, 28, 1924 to Sally and Gordon Sehon of Tom, Oklahoma. She spent her younger years in the Tom area, graduating from Tom High School.

After high school she moved to Tulsa, OK to work in a plane factory where she was the original “Rosie the Riveter” putting on the bombardier doors. She loved living in a large city with a bunch of girls. She had an appendicitis attack and after the hospital stay, her Momma came to get her and took her back to Tom. She got a job in Dekalb, Texas working at a drug store. Her brother Roy Lee invited her up to stay with them in McAlister, OK, which she gladly accepted.  While there she met her lifelong love, Carl Deviney. Their courtship was fast as he was to ship out to the Pacific Theater in WWII. They dated for 2 weeks and were married on June 30, 1943, at St. Joseph’s Parish in Clarksville, Texas.  After the war, Carl went to work in a garage as an auto mechanic.  Momma had given birth to Brenda Ruth a short time after Daddy had shipped out.  They then had Carolyn Ann two years later and then six years later added Jack Gordon, who was born in Fort Stockton, TX. Then four years later their family was complete with the birth of Sherrie Kay in Paul’s Valley, OK. They lived all over the state of Texas living in Ft. Stockton, Levelland, Morton, Odessa and Lindsay, Ok. Where they bought a home and lived for 4 years. Then they were transferred to Shiprock, NM, Waterflow, NM, and Kirkland, NM before moving to Cortez, CO. They stayed in Cortez for four years before moving to Baker, MT where they lived the rest of their lives.

Ruth being a petite woman was anything but delicate. Growing up she learned how to work hard and take pride in that work. Ruth’s greatest  achievement was the family she and Carl raised and the home she kept  as it was always clean, never were pans set on the table, ironed all sheets and dishtowels, sweet tea served at meals and always coffee on in the afternoon. Granny was known for her famous homemade rolls, they kept her kids, grandkids and great grandkids showing up often and they never left disappointed. She was always quick to “giggle” like only she could. Granny was a lover of babies and relished in any time her family could give her. Many episodes of Wheel of Fortune where watched with her family over dinner and in her day she was hard to beat. At almost 98 she got up every day dressed, put her shoes on and was ready for what the day had to offer. On Sundays she would dress up and attend the Community Church where she developed a fellowship with many over the years.

Ruth leaves behind her 3 remaining children, Carolyn Hadley and her sons, Jeff (Josie), Joe (Jodee), John (Carol), Justin (Brook), Jarrett (Robyn); son, Jack Deviney (Vivika) and their son Carl (Jen); daughter, Sherrie Trevino (Ed) and their sons, Trent (Kay Lynn) and Derrik Sonsalla; grandchildren, Erin (Brett) Stanhope, Maurie Dent and Weston (Tyesha) Dent; She leaves a lasting legacy in having 12 grandkids, 32 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way.  She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Deviney; daughter, Brenda; granddaughter, Erika Deviney; sons-in-law, Ralph Sonsalla, Jack Hadley, and Mike O’Connor; sister, Rubye Gurley; brothers, George Baker, Garland Baker, Clarence Baker, Roy Lee Baker, Jim Sehon, Ben Sehon, Henry Sehon, Parnell Sehon, and Edward Sehon; She came from a big family whom she mourned for terribly the last few years, but she also leaves a large family who will love her and her memory forever.