Ruth Elizabeth Crowe, age 89, of Kuna, Idaho, slipped away peacefully to be with her Savior on September 25, 2019. She died at her home in Swan Falls Assisted Living with her family present, following a short illness. Ruth is survived by her eight children: Blenda (Paul) Neyhart of Twin Falls, Idaho; James III (Linda) Crowe of Hewitt, Texas; Donald (Leoma) Crowe of Farmington, New Mexico; Paul (Doris) Crowe of Bonney Lake, Washington; Chuck (Sheryl) Crowe of Kuna, Idaho; Wanda (Alex) Stone of Kuna, Idaho; John (Irene) Crowe of Kuna, Idaho; Debra (Norman) Peck of Nampa, Idaho; her 39 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great grand-children; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband James Crowe; her parents William Jeffrey and Gretta (Rose) Jeffrey; her sisters: Alberta Senn, Leona Iwanicki, Gretta Birchenough, Mildred Jeffrey, Florence Moore, Grace Jennings; and a brother William Jeffrey. Ruth was born October 28, 1929, the youngest child of William and Gretta Jeffrey. Her early years were spent in Pequannock and Ocean Grove, New Jersey. After 8th grade, Ruth dropped out of school to go to work at a Five and Dime store in order to help her family in difficult economic times. Her love of music began early, and as a teenager she played the cornet in the drum and bugle corps, then later played in a Salvation Army Band. It was while she was playing in the band on the boardwalk that my dad, an airman stationed with the Air Force nearby, saw her. He went up, put his arm around her and asked her on a date. After that first date, he asked her to marry him, and three months later, on October 14, 1950 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, they were married. To this union were added eight children over the next 15 years. After living in several places with the Air Force, Jim and Ruth and their first three children moved to Kuna, Idaho, where five more children joined the family over the next few years. Ruth remained in Kuna throughout the rest of her life. The majority of Ruth's life was spent caring for her family, but she also helped supplement family income by caring for "her ladies." She did house cleaning for a number of different elderly women. Ruth never got her driver's license, so her primary means of transportation was a bicycle which she rode even up into her 70's. Music was a big part of Ruth's life. She played the cornet as a teenager. Later in her life she taught herself to play a small organ. In the last couple of years, she would open the door of her room at the assisted living facility and play hymns for her friends. For a number of years she played the tambourine at church. About 15 years ago, Ruth taught herself to play the harmonica and would play for family gatherings and specials at church. At her assisted living, she would play a song for the blessing at special meals. Her playing was simple, but her greatness was not in the level of her talent but in how freely she shared it with those around her. Ruth's faith was a very important part of her life. She was a member of the Kuna Church of the Nazarene where she attended faithfully. During her later years, Ruth also attended the Kuna Bible Missionary Church where many of her children attended. Her faith was simple and beautiful, lived out in faithfulness and generosity of spirit. Words are inadequate to express the impact Ruth had on those around her. Her family has many stories of the sacrifices she made for them, the protection she provided them, and the deep character she modeled for them. Loyalty, compassion, generosity, kindness, and faithfulness are all words used to describe her. Throughout even the final days and hours of her life, she was still living faithfully and obediently to the call of God on her life, fulfilling the mission she was entrusted with. She will be missed. The family would especially like to thank Swan Falls Assisted Living in Kuna, where Ruth spent two extremely happy years surrounded by friends and loving caregivers. She truly made that her home and family. They would also like to thank Harrison's Hope Hospice for their loving care of Ruth and her family during her final few weeks of life. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at the Kuna Church of the Nazarene located at 1281 W. Avalon St. in Kuna. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Monday, September 30, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd in Nampa. All are welcome to come and celebrate Ruth's life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Hope Foundation at Harrison's Hope Hospice, 3137 S. Meridian Road, Meridian, Idaho 83642
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