Arlene DeLoris Ruggles-Pool passed away in the comfort of her home on Monday, Jan. 19, just hours after spending a wonderful day with family.
Arlene loved children, although she only had two of her own, she and her husband, Norman Ruggles, fostered 642 children over the years.
She also worked in the dorms at Oregon School for the Blind for several years. Over the course of her life she held many jobs, working at Spirit Mountain Casino with her son, Rod. She also was a waitress, working with her daughter, Debbie. But the most important titles that she held were Mom, Gram, Gimmie, Grandma Earring, Sister and Auntie.
Her husband, Norman, passed away in 1985. She always said that he was the "Love of her Life." She did, however, go on to love again. In July of 1999, she married Garner L. Pool, which created an even larger family for her to love. Garner passed away in January 2014.
Arlene is survived by son Rod Ruggles of Jefferson; daughter Debbie Hoskins and son-in-law Reed Hoskins of Jefferson; brother Lee Farmen of Salem; stepchildren Helen McCleery, Verni Knight, Carol Sayre and Dale Pool; grandchildren Tamee, Stefanie, Staci, Carli, Rodney, Wyn, Chad, Dinee, Angela, Mike and Greg; and great-grandchildren Mandy, Rylie, Baylie, Tyler, Abby, Lexus, Averi, Seth, Owen, Cacia, Adam, Emily and Jesse. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, Julia and Chris Farmen; husband Norman L. Ruggles; husband Garner L. Pool; and sisters Hazel Gallagher, Vi Sherwood, Ethel McCulley and Jean Wood. She was lost without her sisters.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Jefferson Cemetery in Jefferson. A celebration of Life will follow at the Jefferson United Methodist Church.