Ruthie Mae Smith

Ruthie Mae Smith beloved wife, mother and grandmother, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 18, 2017.

She was born to John Wesley Smith and Stella Evans Smith in Seymour, Texas, on September 5, 1916.  Her father share-cropped in Oklahoma and Arkansas before settling his family near Gran Quivira and Claunch, New Mexico.

At the age of 14, she gave her heart to Jesus Christ, whom she faithfully served for the rest of her life.  As a young girl she walked 8 miles from her home to attend church in Gran Quivira every Sunday, eschewing her father's suggestion to ride a horse.   Her father wanted his daughters to attend school and rented a house in Mountainair so they wouldn't have to make the 50-mile round trip to school every day.

She enrolled at Shield of Faith Academy in Amarillo, Texas, where she met her husband, Victor McCormick Smith.  They were married on August 18, 1936 in Gran Quivira.   Shield of Faith grew into Southwestern Assemblies of God University, and at the time of her death, Ruthie was the oldest graduate of the institution.   The couple moved to Fort Worth, Texas there their two oldest children -- Victoria and David were born.  After graduation from Bible School, they pastored at Duran, New Mexico.  Later settling in Alamogordo  where their third child, Estelle was born.

Among her many activities and duties, Ruthie was a Sunday School teacher, led singing and oversaw church youth activities.  She worked at a grocery store with her husband in Alamogordo and then at Holloman Air Force Base.  She also worked at Otero County State Bank in Alamogordo.  Ruthie and Victor moved to Sunnyvale, California in 1960 when Lockheed transferred him to the West Coast.  There she worked for First National Bank of San Jose (now Bank of The West). until they took early retirement.

In the early 1970's. Ruthie and Victor joined Youth With a Mission, serving in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.  After returning from their time with YWAM.  they returned to Albuquerque where Victor was pastor to seniors at First Family Church.  Later they pastored churches in  Santa Rosa and La Luz before returning to Albuquerque for their second retirement.

She is survived by her three children: Victoria Jane Blatherwick (Orville), David Joel Smith (Judith) and Estelle Ruth Morgan;  seven grandchildren: Greg Lyman Stiles (Melissa); Jennifer Smith Rosenbaum (Marc); Jeffrey Cole Smith (Lisa)'; Granvil Millard Morgan Jr., (Sherrie)' Brent David  Morgan (Helen);  Charisse Morgan Highlander (Don); Cynthia Morgan Pereira (Michael)

12 great grandchildren:  Martin Stiles (Melody); Sophia Stiles; Carter Rosenbaum;  Cameron Rosenbaum; Ainsley Smith; Cassie Pecharich (Daniel); Granvil (Trey) Morgan III; Scott Morgan; Kyra Highlander; Dylan Pereira; Ethan Pereira; Kalib Pereira;  and one Great Great Grandson, Rory Granvil Pecharich.

She was preceded in death by her parents,  John and Stella Smith; two sisters, Era Smith McCoy and Edith Smith Bullard; and a great-granddaughter, Lora Jane Stiles.

Memorial Service will be Saturday, January 13, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Family Church, 6101 Paradise Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico with Pastor J. M Barnard officiating.

Her ashes will be buried by her husband and parents at the Claunch Cemetery.

In lieu of floral offerings, the family has suggested donations to Southwestern Assemblies of God University  (SAGU)  Scholarships, 1200 Sycamore Street, Waxahachie, Texas 75165  Attention: Devin S Ferguson.