Ruth Goff

Ruth was born September 26, 1914 in Nappanee, Indiana to Simon and Annora Schmucker. Ruth passed away on Friday, March 1, 2013 in Albuquerque, NM. Ruth’s family moved to the Bellville, Texas area in 1918. She graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1939 with a degree in Home Economics and completed her master’s degree in 1949. Ruth married Del Deese in 1950. Daughter Susan was born in 1953. Though Ruth moved to New Mexico in 1954, she always considered herself a Texan, fondly remembering when Texans were Democrats and not Republicans. Nancy was born in Hobbs, NM in 1956. Ruth taught in Farmington, Kirtland, Cliff, and Alamogordo, NM where she was principal at Oregon Elementary School. Ruth retired in 1978 and moved to Las Cruces in 1985 and then to Albuquerque in 1990. Ruth was actively involved in retired teacher organizations serving as President of New Mexico Association of Educational Retirees. She also served on the board of the New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority. She was always active in her church, especially with United Methodist Women. Ruth married Harold R. Goff in 1998; moving to Brookdale Valencia Senor Living in 2002. She received outstanding care by Brookdale Assisted Living staff since June 2010 and by Hospice de la Luz staff since November 2011, notably Dr. Ortega, Rosemary, and Lucas. Her parents, siblings, husbands, and daughter Nancy Tarazoff predeceased her. Ruth is survived by daughter Susan Deese-Roberts and son-in-law Charles ‘Chuck’ Roberts of Albuquerque; son-in-law Ron Tarazoff and grandson Anthony (Emma) Tarazoff of Las Cruces; stepchildren Russell (Linda) Goff of Albuquerque; Lloyd `Goff (Debbie Livingston) of Aurora, CO; and Nancy Goff of Denver, CO. Services will be held at French’s Mortuary, University Chapel on Friday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services will be held in Alamogordo, NM at Monte Vista Cemetery on Saturday, March 9 at 10:30 a.m. Donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to Christ United Methodist Church, 6200 Gibson SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 or Noonday Ministries, 101 Broadway Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

Ruth Goff

September 26, 1914 - March 1, 2013