Grandmother Ruth Adell Nesmith Terry

Grandma Ruth Terry

My maternal grandmother, Ruth Adell Nesmith Terry was born November 10, 1901 in Natick, Massachusetts. She was born in the home of her maternal grandparents, Charles and Samantha Bride.

This page, dedicated to Grandma Terry, will likely bring back wonderful memories for her living grandchildren: cousins, Stephen, Susan, Linda, and Mick, and my sisters, Linda and Terri. As we grew older and provided great-grandchildren, her love enveloped them as well. Her devotion to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will never be forgotten. She passed away in Ephrata, at the age of 81.

Nellie and Frank Nesmith

Ruth's parents were Frank Orlando Nesmith and Nellie Alby Bride. Frank and Nellie married December 16, 1900, in Wauneta, NE, then moved to Natick, MA, where her parents lived. Ruth was born the next November, in Natick, MA. Soon after the birth of their second daughter, Vera, they moved the family from Natick, back to Wauneta. Frank's father had homesteaded near Wauneta and many family members lived there. Frank operated a General Merchandise store. Nellie's parents, Charles and Samantha Bride, also moved to Wauneta to be closer to their daughter and granddaughters.

Ruth and her middle sister Vera, c. 1911

Ruth was the eldest of three daughters. Her sisters were Vera Leona (Maddux), born January 6, 1905 in Natick, MA and Fern Marie (Fox), born July 2, 1908 in Wauneta, NE.

Ruth, Fern and Vera as children, c. 1911

Ruth was an accomplished violinist - age 16

One of our family heirlooms is the violin that belonged to Grandmother Ruth Terry. The violin was gifted to me by Grandma Terry when she passed away. My older son Joshua, took violin lessons with his great-grandmother's violin from the age of 9 - 12.

I wrote to Grandma Terry's youngest sister Fern to inquire about this special musical instrument.

"Your great grandpa and great grandma Nesmith bought it for your grandma from John McPhearson. He lived in the country south of Wauneta and was a violinist. He gave violin lessons, so (Ruth) your grandma took lessons from him several years.  Then she got married. They lived in Calif. so don't know if she took other lessons or not. I think they gave her the violin on her 16th birthday.... she had wanted one real bad. She played real good. We all enjoyed her music. Sometimes our mother played the piano to accompany her. Josh sure might have inherited her talent. She often wrote about how much fun she had with Josh. She loved being with all of you."  Fern Nesmith Fox - 2/22/1985 from Wauneta, NE.

Ruth Terry in Hollywood, CA. She was married and mother to Junior. She was about 23 years old.

Ruth and Jesse Terry moved to Hollywood, CA for a short time. Their son, Jesse Wall Terry, Jr. was born August 20, 1923, in Hollywood. Soon they moved to Holyoke, CO, where their second son, William Bertrand and their daughter Donna Patricia were born.

Ruth and baby "Junior"

The Terry family especially enjoyed boats and being out on the water. In the photo above, Junior gets his first opportunity to go boating with his mother and father.

Baby Bill, at 15 months, gets his first boating excursion, Junior with the oars, Ruth up front

Junior, Ruth and Bill c. 1930

William Bertrand "Bill" was born January 31, 1928, in Holyoke, CO.

Ruth Terry and baby daughter Patty Terry, about 10 months old

Ruth and 20 month old Patty Terry, May 17, 1933, Holyoke, CO

Donna Patricia, "Patty", Terry was born August 2, 1931, in Holyoke, CO.


































In later years, the Terry family had their own sailboat and enjoyed many hours on the water.

Patty, Bill, Ruth and Junior, in their own boat. As ever, Jesse Sr. took the photograph of his family, May 17, 1938.

Ruth on the sailboat, May 17, 1938

Ruth A. Terry, early 1940s, living in N. Seattle

Our mother, "Patty", eventually became Pat. She and her mother Ruth were very close. I believe that Grandmother Ruth taught many homemaking and mothering skills to our mother, who turned out to be brilliant in everything that she tried, including: sewing, cooking, teaching, child care, community leadership, music and art. I appreciate the talents and skills handed down from mother to daughter, from Great-great grandmother Samantha Loker Bride, to Great Grandmother Nelly Bride Nesmith, to Grandmother Ruth Nesmith Terry and to our mother, Pat Terry Lowe.

Pat and Ruth, mid 1940's

Pat and Ruth, late 1940's

Pat Terry, her grandfather - Frank O. Nesmith,
his daughter - Ruth A. Nesmith Terry - c.1950

Three generations: Great-grandfather Frank Orlando Nesmith, Grandmother Ruth Adell Nesmith Terry and her daughter (our mother) Pat Terry.

Ruth Terry at the wedding of her daughter Pat Terry Lowe - 1950

Ruth Terry, dressed up and ready for the marriage of her daughter, Pat Terry, to William Thomas Lowe.

Grandma Ruth Terry and me, (5 years old), in her kitchen in the Seattle house at N. 83rd - about 1956

The photo above brings back many memories for me, of time spent with Grandma. Not only was she a wonderful baker, she also played some great board and card games, made exquisite doll clothes, took grandchildren to the Seattle Zoo, walked us over to Chubby and Tubby's to shop, played with us at Peanut Pond near Green Lake, and read stories before bedtime. Grandma had 7 grandchildren and she was a very special and important adult in each of our lives.

I'm happy that our parents were willing and able to drive from Ephrata to Seattle, as often as possible, so that my sisters, Linda and Terri, and I could spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Terry. Our Uncle Bill and his wife Yvonne often brought cousins, Stephen, Susan, Linda and Michael from Port Orchard to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Seattle.

When Grandpa Terry died in 1965, Grandma was alone in Seattle. She had never learned to drive and wanted more than anything to be close to family. Our parents, Willie and Pat Lowe, invited Grandma to move to Ephrata, WA, where she would once again be close to her daughter, Pat, and granddaughter, Terri. A few years later, Grandma found a nice home about two blocks from our parents' home. She soon became involved in the Ephrata Senior Center and made many new friends. She enjoyed her life, especially when grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to visit.

Grandma Ruth Terry at her home in Ephrata in the late 1970's

Grandma Terry and Josh (nearly 5), Aug. 1979

Ruth Terry continued teaching the children of her grandchildren, including my sons, Joshua and David.

Grandma Terry and Dave, (20 months), Aug. 1979

Dear Grandma Terry,

If there was a chance for me to see you now, I would hold your hands in mine, look into your lovely hazel eyes and let you know that your love for your children, your grandchildren and your great grandchildren was a blessing for us all. There is so much I learned from having known you and spent time with you. You taught me about mothering and grand-mothering. I would put my arm around you and place a kiss on your soft cheek, close once again. Thank you, dearest Grandma. I miss you so much.

Love, Cathy

Josh (age 7), Grandma Terry, Dave (age 4)