“What I’m going to miss most is the people.” These were among the final words Ruth Love spoke before she passed away at home on June 17, 2013. These words truly define the essence of Ruth who cherished each moment she spent surrounded by family and friends.

Ruth was born on February 13, 1927, in Gridley, Calif., near Sacramento. This is the area where she met and married her first husband, John. Possessing an adventurous spirit, they decided to move to Alaska with their two young daughters, arriving on the ship “Baranoff” to Juneau in 1952. This great land would be home to Ruth for the remainder of her life. She was always a hard worker, successful at a variety of jobs that included both office work and manual labor.

In what would become a life-changing experience, Ruth met a fisherman from Petersburg named William Love; they married in 1972. First with their boat Whidby, then with the “She-o,” Ruth and Bill were soon recognized as among the best fisher-people in southeast Alaska. Near one of their favorite fishing spots off Prince of Wales Island, Ruth and Bill purchased a home at Point Baker. With Ruth’s wonderful gardening, cooking and “project management” skills, their place at Baker became a welcoming rest stop for fellow fisher-people, friends, and family. This eventually prompted Ruth and Bill to create Land’s End Fish Camp, and with Ruth’s determined focus, this venture became very successful. Many of the customers who came as strangers to fish, left as life-long friends. To all who grew to know this engaging lady, she was affectionately called “Ma,” “Momma,” or “Gramma.”

As age and health problems became an issue, Ruth and Bill moved to Petersburg, first making their home on Valkyrie St. and more recently at Mountain View Manor. Wherever Ruth called home, she took special pride in growing bountiful gardens of vegetables and plant life. Visitors often admired the beauty of her yard work, comparing it to a park-like setting. Ruth’s welcoming hospitality and open door policy continued until her final days. She displayed a positive attitude throughout her difficult struggles with lung cancer and various strains of pneumonia.

Ruth was preceded in death by her eldest daughter, Nora.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; her daughter, Lynn Victor of Bremerton, Wash .; and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service was held at St. Catherine's Catholic Church on June 27, 2013, with a reception following in the church hall.