Ruby Fern Schendel

December 17, 1931 - May 26, 2014

In Loving Memory Ruby Fern Schendel Ruby Fern McKay Cunningham Schendel was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon on December 17, 1931 and she passed away on May 26, 2014, after suffering from Alzheimer's and a recent stroke. She was born to Everett and Alice Potter McKay, the youngest of five children. Ruby's mother died when Ruby was only six years old. Her father determined that he could not care for his two daughters, so for the next several years she and her sister Kathy were moved around to different living situations in Montana and Idaho. At age nine she was fostered by Frank and Enid Cunningham of California. The Cunninghams gave her a home and a stable family environment for the rest of her childhood and youth. When she was 13, they also gave her a baby sister, Linda, whom she loved all her life. Ruby also remained close to her sister Kathy. Ruby graduated from Oakdale High School in 1948 and went to Modesto Junior College to pursue her dream of being a teacher. At age 19 she began teaching school and eventually found her way to San Francisco State to complete her bachelor's degree in education. She was an accomplished badminton player and enjoyed riding horses. With no experience but plenty of adventuresome spirit, she and her two best friends built a cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The cabin still stands today. In 1957, through friends, she met Jack Schendel. Ruby was attracted to Jack's integrity, sense of purpose, family values and his strong commitment to Christ. Jack was attracted to Ruby's wit, charm, her joy and zest for life and her faith. The two married on July 26, 1958, in Denair, California. This marriage lasted for nearly 56 years and produced five children, one of whom died at birth. In the early years of their marriage, they moved from California to Eugene, OR, where they lived for seven years, and then moved to Toledo, Ohio. Ruby made life-long friends everywhere she went. In 1978, Ruby and Jack came back to the West Coast, settling in West Linn, OR, where they lived for 26 years, before moving to Charbonneau in Wilsonville, OR in 2006. In 1983 Ruby completed a master's degree and then a PhD (1986) from the University of Toledo. She taught at the University of Portland from 1981 to 1996. She loved teaching and her special passion was to help resolve "math anxiety" in the minds of her students. Where Ruby focused most and her triumph was in her roles as a friend, wife, mother and grandmother. She not only loved and nurtured her own family, but over the years she took in or otherwise influenced countless others, opening her heart and her home. With a twinkle in her eye, and contagious optimism, she was a champion for the under-dog. Always an instigator of relationships, Ruby had the coffee on, ready for conversation and fun. Ruby's interest in kids, sports, and education motivated her to take on a wide variety of volunteer jobs over the years. She coached gymnastics in California and later started a softball league for girls in Toledo, Ohio in the early 70s. She was a scout leader and renowned teller of campfire stories and constellation mythology. She built theatre sets and made costumes. She taught Sunday School to a wide variety of grade levels and brought fun and humor to learning. Her grandchildren will remember many summers of swimming fun with their grandma. Ruby possessed a strong belief in God. Despite a lot of upheaval and pain in her childhood, she found hope and purpose through her Christian faith. In retirement she and Jack invested most of their available resources in Christian missions and education. For several years they traveled back-and-forth to Riga, Latvia to develop a curriculum for Christian Morals and Ethics at the university level. She and Jack have also enthusiastically given of their time, talent and treasure to their local church community, Portland First Church of the Nazarene. Ruby is survived by her husband, Jack S. Schendel of Wilsonville, OR, daughter, Betsy Schendel Taylor, and her husband Jeff Taylor, grandchildren, Katie, Jack, Scott and Jamie of Wilsonville; daughter, Carol Schendel Shelby, and her husband, Bruce Shelby, grandchildren, David, Jack and Will of West Linn, OR; daughter Jackie Schendel, grandchild, Jakob Brown of Renton, WA; and son, Kurt Schendel, of Seattle, WA. She is also survived by brother, Gordon McKay, of Klamath Falls, OR and sister, Linda Cunningham Swanson of Yuba City, CA. Her other siblings, Kathleen Fry, Dean McKay and Gene McKay are no longer living. There is a long list of other siblings-in-law, nephews, nieces, and close friends who will also miss her love and laughter. A Memorial Service to celebrate Ruby's life will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 27th, (with organ and piano prelude starting at 10:30 a.m.), at Portland First Church of the Nazarene, 6100 SW Raab Rd, Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruby's name to the International School Project at www.isptrips.org , or the Ruby Schendel Memorial Fund at Portland First Church of the Nazarene, c/o Attrell's Newberg Funeral Chapel. Arrangements are in the care of Attrell's Newberg Funeral Chapel, a Golden Rule Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.attrells.com.