Obituary of Ruth M. Raught

Smethport - Ruth M. Raught, 101, of Smethport, passed away peacefully, Tuesday evening (April 28, 2015) in the Bradford Regional Medical Center, Bradford. She was born Oct 17, 1913 in Bradford, a daughter of Charles and Matilda "Martha" Brown Higgins. On Feb. 4, 1932, in Limestone, NY, she married Jesse O. Raught, and lived her entire life in the Smethport area. As a pre-teenager, Ruth was taken out of school to care for her infant baby brother in a motherless home. She raised him as her own only to suffer the grief of losing him on the battlefield in France during World War II. As a result, she supported almost every veterans association in his memory. His Purple Heart was one of her revered treasures. Ruth enjoyed scrapbooking the many sporting and academic accomplishments of her grandchildren. A devoted and supportive mother, she was the motivation behind a new generation of offspring possessing both professional and higher educational degrees. She will be remembered by all whose lives she touched for her kindness and the endless love she had for her family and friends. Her door was always open to those falling on hard times. An active volunteer locally, she was especially proud of her mission trip to Kentucky with Heifer International taking livestock and her canning expertise to various Appalachian poverty projects where she also shared her talents of tatting, crocheting, knitting, and baking of her special "Granny Cookies". Ruth was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Smethport. She was employed at Backus Co. in Smethport and later at Viko in Eldred, from where she retired. She is survived by: 2 daughters: Violet May Sukanovich of Bradford and Rose (Ronald) Huffman of Grand Valley, PA 1 son: Dr. Joseph (Dorothy) Raught of New Wilmington, PA 12 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and 29 great-great grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters: Nellie Green, Frances Thomas and Sue Digel Bosworth and three brothers: Charles Jr., George and Jack Higgins. Honoring Ruth's request, there will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 9th at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Smethport, at 12 noon, with Vicar Joann Piatko, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Smethport. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Christian Community Service/Smethport Food Bank, P.O. Box 312, Smethport, PA 16749, will continue the spirit of giving and sharing demonstrated by the century-plus lifetime of Ruth Martha Higgins Raught, our beloved family matriarch. Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Smethport.