Ruby St Clair

On April 10, 1941 Ruby was born to Iwilder and Ed Sanders Sr. She was one of ten children born to the Sanders Union in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Although Portland, Oregon was where Ruby settled and called home, she also spent years in Pocatello, Idaho and Houston, Texas. In 1979, Ruby met her love and soulmate Willie St. Clair Jr. They married on February 18, 1988 in Texas but went on to live in Portland. Ruby and Willie were married until he passed away on January 19, 2017.

Ruby was the mother of four children who loved her dearly- Brian Allen Bozman, Terry Bozman, Doraine Denise Mungin, and Kimberly Marie Thornton. Her grandchildren called her “Gaga”, which was started by the first grandchild, Nicole who was born to Denise. Ruby’s other grandchildren- Brian Jr, Simone, Jecyeson, Jasmine, Ryan and Zyon followed suit and called her Gaga. She loved being Gaga and loved when they would still call her that into adulthood.  

If there’s something Ruby was known for it was her large pots of family meals she would spend days prepping and having ready to eat just so everyone could come and enjoy each other's company and her good food. She put real love, heart and soul into those big meals and we all talked about how good it was and couldn’t wait until the next one. She loved everything about the holidays- the decorating, shopping for family, making dinner and desserts and getting the family together. Although those traditions faded, we are forever grateful for the memories we created as a family back then. Until her knees couldn’t handle gardening any longer, Ruby was also known for having a beautiful and flourishing garden full of veggies and flowers to share with the family, whether it was some fresh cut flowers or a bag full of green tomatoes to fry. Ruby loved her family dearly and in her later years she still always made sure to leave a fun and loving impression anytime she spent time with her great grandchildren. 

Ruby was preceded in death by her mother Iwilder in 2006, husband Willie St Clair Jr. in 2017, Son-in-law Frank Mungin in 2024. Her father Ed Sr., brothers- Ed Jr., Ted and Grover and sisters Dorothy, Mildred and Nellie Pearl have also passed away before Ruby.

Ruby leaves many loved ones to cherish her memories. Her children Brian, Terry, Denise and Kimberly. Her grandchildren Nicole, Brian Jr., Simone, Jecyeson, Jasmine, Ryan and Zyon. Great-grandchildren Makenzie, Ezra, Isaiah, Aries and Raygen. Her sisters Betty Jean, Maggie and Rachel. Also many cousins, nieces and nephews and a host of close family and loved ones that will miss her dearly.

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