Ruth Elizabeth Snell

JAY – On a beautiful bluebird day, July 13, 2024, we said goodbye to our mom, sister, and friend, Ruth Elizabeth Snell. It was fitting that she would leave us with such a beautiful day to appreciate and remember her. Those who knew Ruth knew how extraordinary she was, how grateful she was for the bluebird day, and how blessed she felt to live the life she led.

Ruth was extraordinary in every way, and her family was everything to her. She was so proud to be part of the Virgin family, with so much love and respect for one another, and if you were lucky enough, you’d have heard the stories of their childhood. Ruth gave so much of herself to her family, helping her sister by taking in her nephews Owen and Warren, and raising them as her own when their father died. With more love to give, she and her husband adopted Tami and Tina, giving them the most amazing life. She did not stop there; she cared for her community in any way she could. She always provided a seat at the dinner table for anyone who wanted or needed a place to be. Some will remember her supplying goat milk, cutting hair, and tying flies for those around her.

Ruth was an avid outdoorsperson with a great appreciation for nature. Her childhood was spent outdoors with her dad hunting, skiing with her friend Joyce Crossland and playing with her sisters. She and her husband John spent their lives together fishing, hunting, trapping, and mountain climbing. Her favorite spots were Tumbledown Pond and Nesowadnehunk Lake. A favorite was spending the winter ice fishing on Chamberlain Lake, with John in the warm ice shack and her outside fishing in the cold. Ruth and her friend Laurie Beaudoin spent hours of the night racoon hunting, oh the stories they have. She also dedicated many hours outside grafting apple trees, picking blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and mowing the grass as she hated an unkept lawn. In her “spare time” she gardened and enjoyed spending time with her friends and canning. Most recently, she enjoyed saltwater fishing in Florida with Tami and Rich and riding her three-wheel bicycle with her trusty companion (Shae) in the basket around the neighborhood.

Ruth was born on Aug. 22, 1929, at home on Backkingdom Road in Mexico, Maine to Stanwood and Evangeline (Fuller) Virgin. She attended Mexico schools and married John A. Snell of Mexico on Aug. 24, 1950.

Ruth leaves behind a large, loving family, including sisters, Cora Doucette of Mexico, Fay (Frank) Hutchins of Carthage, Linda Brown of Carthage, and Kathy Carrier of Oklahoma; daughters, Tami (Richard) Bartlett of Stuart, Florida, and Tina Leavitt of Park City, Utah, nephews she considered sons, Warren (Norma) Finnegan of South Portland, and Owen (Holly) Finnegan of Turner. She adored her grandchildren, Marley Leavitt, Megan (Kelvin) Smith, Tyler (Emily) Jamison, Matthew Finnegan, Aaron (Lin) Finnegan, Briyette (Cody) Finnegan, Leon Beaulieu, and great grandchildren Keelin, Kaliyah and Kaiya Smith. She will also be missed by her dog, Shae.

She was predeceased by her husband John, brothers, Stanwood “Bubba” Virgin and James “Sonny” Virgin and sisters Marilyn Finnegan and Helen Virgin.

Friends and family are invited to share memories with the family at http://www.meaderandson.com.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday July 20, 2024, from 4-8 p.m., at Boondocks Farm venue, 1 Shelakis Drive, Canton.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Maine Children’s Home (formerly Home for Little Wanderers, the organization that Tami and Tina were adopted from), 93 Silver Street, Waterville, Maine 04091. Phone 207-873-4253. Website mainechildrenshome.org.