Ruth Ann Youngblood of Plano, Texas passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on November 25, 2018 at the age of 73. She was born on November 3, 1945 to Audrey Lee Roy Frazier and Aurora Maurine (Bennett) Frazier in Abilene, Texas. Ruth Ann married Clay Youngblood on March 17, 1984 in Carrollton, Texas at the home of Clay’s mother.
Ruth Ann was a loving, sharing, considerate and compassionate woman of faith. Ruth Ann was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved the fact that one set of grandchildren and their parents called her “Nina” while the others called her “Nana”.
Ruth Ann was an avid reader who shared her love for reading as a career teacher who specialized at helping early elementary age readers. She had many success stories turning struggling first grade readers into future Merit Scholars. Ruth Ann loved to play games. Bridge was definitely her favorite and she enjoyed playing with many friends she had taught with, those from church and other clubs. This was a priority in Ruth Ann’s life that she valued deeply.
She also loved murder mysteries and puzzles. Ruth Ann and her husband enjoyed many hours together watching PBS Masterpiece Mysteries, the Hallmark Channel and anything showing on PBS Masterpiece Classics. They did manage to squeeze in a few Dallas Cowboys and University of Texas football games. Add in a Starbucks, and she had the perfect date!
Ruth Ann also loved travel, especially to the U.S. National Parks. She had many very fond memories of traveling with her grandchildren and family on several visits to Yellowstone National Park. San Diego was also a frequent destination to see the California grandchildren and their parents. Any trip or outing with family was a treasured event in Ruth Ann’s life.
She also loved river cruises in Europe. Ruth Ann’s most recent cruise was along the Seine from Paris to the beaches at Normandy which included an extension to London and Oxford. The Oxford visit featured a private tour of Highclere Castle, where the filming for Masterpiece Downton Abbey took place. She was thrilled to see the castle “up close and personal” since she thoroughly enjoyed the Downton Abbey series. Ruth Ann also loved the earlier cruises along the Rhine and the Danube Rivers and an ocean cruise to Belize and the Yucatan.
But most of all, she simply loved being with her family and many others she loved! Ruth Ann was very supportive of everything the children and grandchildren were involved with and never missed an opportunity to see a game, a concert or any program that involved them. She was always eager to help those in need and she did so even under the most trying of circumstances. Ruth Ann’s caring heart, infectious smile, and loving nature will be deeply missed by many. Those who love her take comfort knowing that she is now in the “best of hands” without pain and fatigue.
Ruth Ann is survived by her beloved husband, Clay Youngblood of Plano, Texas; daughters, Veronica Zarola and husband, Michael of Austin, Texas and Vanessa Brungardt of Plano, Texas; sons, Claborne Youngblood of Seattle, Washington and Ted Beckstead of Plano, Texas; grandchildren, Samuel Brungardt, Cole Zarola, Savannah Brungardt, and Aidan Jack Zarola; brother, Larry Frazier and wife, Kathy; niece, Fawn Walker; nephew, Larry Todd Frazier; and mother-in-law, Charlane French-Bolton.
She was preceded in death by parents, A.L. and Maurine Frazier; aunt, Earline Kelley; and uncle, Henry Bennett.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, November 30, 2018 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
Memorial contributions in Ruth Ann's honor as a follow-on to her memorial and a way to honor her life may be made to The American Heart Association. When you click the link, be sure to use the "Donate Now" button in the middle of the page. http://www2.heart.org/site/TR/FunRaiser/General?px=11842932&pg=personal&fr_id=3930