MOUNTAIN TOP, PA - Ruth M. (Hamilton) MacDougall, formerly of Andover and Merrimac, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on March 10 at Smith Health Care just 10 days before her 96th birthday.
Ruth, daughter of the late Ernest Richard Hamilton of Chelsea, and the late Monica Jean (Zink) Hamilton of Maynard, was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on March 20, 1925, and later moved to Boston, where she met her husband, the late John Leonard MacDougall to whom she was married for 58 years. She always smiled when she recollected the first day she met him. She was quite young and had just moved into his neighborhood. He was flicking pebbles at her because he thought she was cute and told her he was going to marry her someday.
She married John nine months after he returned from his tour of duty in the 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron of the United States Army Air Corps during WW II. They lived in Boston for eight years where they had three children, and in 1956 bought their first home on Lupine Road in Andover, where they raised their girls, Ruth Ann, Lorraine, and Jean.
Andover was a special place for Ruth. Her fondest childhood memories were the times she spent with her grandparents, Adam and Anna Zink, and her uncle, Thomas (Timmy) Zink, on their farm at the corner of Webster and North Streets.
Ruth stayed home with the girls until they were all old enough to attend school and then joined the workforce at Western Electric in Lawrence and North Andover. She retired from AT&T (formerly Western Electric) decades later, started a career in real estate, and then went into retail at TJ Maxx.
In 1984, Ruth and John moved from Andover to Merrimac, MA to be closer to their daughter, Ruth Ann, who was battling cancer. Ruth Ann sadly lost her life, and in 1999, they moved to Mountain Top, PA to enjoy a brand new home and a new beginning, down the street from their daughter, Lorraine, and her family.
Ruth loved to drive anywhere and was famous for arriving in record time due to her lead foot. She shopped until she dropped, enjoyed a good joke, and loved spending time with family -especially her grandchildren. She stuffed drawers with candy bars and stocked shelves with soda for them, took them shopping, spent time by the pool with them, and spent hours going through her jewelry cabinet with her granddaughter. Ruth loved gardening, cookouts, days by the pool, the beach, and her beloved pets. Her house was always home to multiple dogs and cats, and sometimes even a bird or two. And when the opportunity presented itself, she rescued and tried to save injured wildlife. She had compassion for all things innocent and small.
Ruth was pre-deceased by her husband, John L. MacDougall, in 2004, and their daughter, Ruth Ann MacDougall, in 1985. She is also predeceased by her sister, Jeannette A. Williamson, her husband Frank Williamson, and their son Frank C. Williamson, all of Florida, as well as her great-niece Jacqueline M. Williamson of North Chelmsford. She is survived by her daughters, Lorraine M. Nash and her husband Gerald T. Nash of Mountain Top, PA, and Jean MacDougall-Tattan and her husband, Gregory S. Tattan of Merrimac, MA; grandchildren Derek T. Nash of Mountain Top, PA; Garrett J. Nash and fiancé Kim Corcoran of Dupont, PA; Jillian L. Tattan and Jason S. Tattan of Merrimac, and great-granddaughter Amelia J. Betancourt of Merrimac. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews including Janice (Connolly) Williamson, Jill (Williamson) Martin and her son, Jacob, and Laura Williamson, and her son, Tyler, all of Florida.
The family sends a sincere thank you to Mary, Tammy, Theresa, Barb, and all the staff at Smith Health Care in Mountain Top for the exceptional loving care they provided to Ruth as well as John over the years, and special thanks to Janusz Wolanin, MD.
ARRANGEMENTS: Due to restrictions on gatherings, services will be private. Burial will be at West Parish Cemetery in Andover. For more information, please visit the website for Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street in Andover at www.burkemagliozzi.com