Ruth Carlyle Miller
April 10, 1920 - May 08, 2010
Mother and Wife Manning’s Coffee Cafeteria Manager
Ruth was born on April 10, 1920 along with a twin brother Robert Adam Carlyle (deceased). Passed away May 8, 2010 Joe, her husband of 34 years preceded her in death on May 23, 1976 and is resting at peace at Lakeview pioneer cemetery on Capitol Hill. Ruth now joins Joe after a long journey full of spirit and courage.
Ruth was the daughter of Adam and Carrie (Brown) Carlyle.Adam was born on Aug. 19, 1874 in Vernon, Ontario Canada. At the age of 20 he completed a course in agriculture at Minnesota State University and then moved to the state of Washington, first raising goats on his farm in Wauna and then settling in Orting. Adam was an original stockholder in the Puyallup Fair. Carrie (Brown) Carlyle was born on Oct. 3, 1886 in Central City, Nebraska and after moving to Washington became a well-known and recognized school teacher in Orting.
As she grew up, Ruth’s family was always involved in dairy farming and resided in Wauna, Orting, Carnation and Snohomish at various times during her childhood. Besides her twin brother Bob, she grew up with two other brothers – Lawrence (Byron) and Stuart (both deceased) and a sister Helen, deceased.
Ruth was a fine student, excelling particularly in elocution and mathematics and graduated from Snohomish High School. While attending the University of Washington, to earn money, she was drawn to the restaurant trade, eventually making that her career. She worked for the famous Manning’s coffee and cafeteria company that started at the Pike Place Market in 1908. She held the positions of counter clerk, personnel supervisor, asst. manager and finally district food supervisor for Wash. State. She worked from 1939-1954 and was awarded the 15 year service pin. When she began to raise her own family, Ruth transitioned into less hourly – intensive work, becoming a food consultant and menu planner for St. Teresa’s and St. Mary’s convents.
She met her future husband, Joe, while both were attending the University of Washington. Their first encounters occurred during her shifts at the Manning’s Cafeteria at 4th and University in downtown Seattle. Joe thought she was especially cute in her white uniform and would come in at dinner time in the hope of getting to know her better. Joseph E. Miller (Marchalewicz) was born in Wilkeson, WA in 1908. His parents Maciej and Marianna (Dorociak) were Polish immigrants who came to the US in 1890 and 1891. In 1945 Ruth and Joe were married.
They built their family home in 1948 after Joe spotted a for sale sign on a walk through Interlaken Park in Seattle. He went running down the hill to grab the sign so that no one else would ask about it. He then went downtown to the Manning’s cafeteria at 4th and University in downtown Seattle where Ruth was working that day to announce that he had found the perfect place for their future family. This home is built on the forest edge of Interlaken Park in Seattle.
Ruth was drawn to church from childhood to her last days. She attended her local churches when she was a child and when her boys were born, Carlyle in 1961 and Stuart in 1963, the family attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill. Later in life she attended St. Clements Episcopal church in the Mt. Baker neighborhood. While at St. Clements she worked in the kitchen making many days and events special and memorable. She also provided the funds for finishing the stained glass windows in the church. Additionally, once a month Ruth and a few of her great church friends would drive down to the Union Gospel Missionin the International District on a Tuesday night with special treats to provide a celebration for any of the small children who had birthdays in that month.
Later in life, after Joe was deceased and her kids were grown, Ruth re-married a longtime friend and famous local magician, Harvey “The Great” Long. (deceased)
Ruth carefully and courageously lived her life, surmounting many obstacles and was always notable for her kindness, patience and generosity in spirit and in deed.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
Church services on May 22nd at 11:00 AM at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Baker neighborhood.
DONATIONS
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Seattle Fire Department Medic One Gift and Trust Fund.
Memorial
Looking into the portals of eternity
Looking into the portals of eternity teaches that the brotherhood of man is inspired by God's word; Then all prejudice of race vanishes away.
George Washington
Just as the Wave Cannot Exist
Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me. It is an uncomfortable doctrine which the true ethics whisper into my ear. You are happy, they say; therefore you are called upon to give much.
Albert Schweitzer