Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Kit Carson. Burial will follow in the Eads Cemetery in Eads. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday at the Brown Funeral Home in Eads. Memorial contribtions can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Kit Carson or to the Prairie Pines Assisted Living Community in Eads.


Ruth Ann Piper was born May 17, 1921 to Robert and Flossie Piper of rural southeastern Colorado. She is preceded in death by three brother and two sisters. Ruth passed away on February 18. 2010 at the Wiesbrod Nursing Home following a severe stroke.



Ruth's growing up years were on the family farm where she spent time cow-punching and working with cattle, her first love. She graduated from Cheyenne Well High School in 1937.



Through her love of horses she met her first husband Lee Cox from Morrison Colorado. The Cox family recognized Ruth natural talent for drawing and sent her to art school in Denver where she excelled. Her marriage to Lee ended in their divorce.



A new start and job proposals landed Ruth in sunny Southern California where she spent time with her camera and easel gathering new perspectives on her art projects. Ruth painted movie theatre posters for various Hollywood studios and taught art classes. While taking in the beach and soaking up the sun she met Rod Quizenberry and they married. Ruth and Rod shared a love of sailing. After Rod's death she became reacquainted with their sailing buddy Harry Miller and Ruth and Harry were married.



After Harry's retirement and ill health they moved to Eads Colorado and would be near to brothers Rex and Robert Piper and sister Faye Schmitt and their families. She and Harry enjoyed small town living until his death in 1989. Ruth remained in their home until she moved to Prairie Pines in 2007 where she lived until her sudden illness.



Ruth continued her painting even after two strokes and surviving breast cancer going from oil painting to ceramics and family members and many friends enjoyed getting her creations come Christmas time.



Ruth's enjoyment of life was contagious and she could cheer you up when you walked in her room. She was loved by many and many will miss her.