Ruth Ellen Bailey Bucy was born at St. Paul’s hospital in Dallas, Texas. On September 1, 1945. Her brother Charles joked that the event precipitated the Japanese surrender. She grew up in a busy family, always active church participants, always musical. At seven she and her family moved to Galveston, Texas and then at thirteen her father’s work took the family to Baltimore, Maryland. After high school Ruth returned to Texas to pursue a degree in music performance at Sam Houston State College. She earned her Bachelors and Masters in Vocal Performance there. She had one of the most beautiful and pure mezzo-soprano voices that many have ever heard. She appreciated and loved many musical genres. She also had a life-long love of animals, particularly dogs.

On January 3, 1970 she married Navy Veteran Bryan Bucy in Huntsville, Texas. Together they had a small farm with horses, dogs, drop-in cats, occasional calves, pigs and various other animals. They ran a butcher’s shop together located on their property. They had hoped to have children, but that wish never came true so they welcomed nieces, nephews and other kids who needed respite from their parents (or the other way around) and were full of love, sometimes tough, always caring. Ruth was involved with dog obedience both as a learner and a teacher and she began raising and showing collies. Eventually, due to lung damage sustained during his Navy service, Bryan was forced to give up the butcher shop. Ruth then took various jobs to make ends meet before starting to work for a veterinary clinic. She continued to be active in different churches and sang in choirs, sacred and secular. She was sought as a singer for many weddings, funerals and other events. She became more active in the breeding and showing of AKC registered dogs. Bryan’s condition continued to worsen and by 1989 he had become bedridden. Ruth continued to work full-time while also providing care for Bryan. He was not a particularly easy patient, but she was steadfast in her love and care for him. In January of 1990 Bryan died. This was a very difficult time for Ruth, but her faith and friends buoyed her and she was able to struggle through. In 1993 she moved to Colorado to live with her (also widowed) sister Joyce Resley. They bought a house near Berthoud and began to raise Schipperke dogs. Ruth was a founding member of the Central Rockies Schipperke Club and was very active in breeding, showing and rescuing Schipperkes. She also began working as a vet tech and administrative assistant for Dr. Tim Thompson, who became a friend as well as an employer. In 2004, Ruth had to endure another loss when Joyce was killed in a car accident. About a year later, Ruth moved close to Ault and began attending Trinity Episcopal Church in Greeley, Colorado. Eventually, Ruth decided to stop raising Schipperkes and move into Greeley city limits. She became even more active in the church and got involved with a knitting group. Her genius shone through when remembering important dates in people’s lives and sending greeting cards to mark those special occasions.

She never “had much”, but always gave of what she had. She had an abundance of kindness, compassion and love and gave those with great generosity. Throughout her life she shared her beautiful and uplifting voice. Ruth had a couple of bouts with breast cancer and went through surgery, radiation and chemo with pretty good grace. She found the slow-down of her energy levels quite irksome, but overall she remained hopeful and cheerful throughout. Most recently she took time to go to a family reunion of the Baileys. She was able to spend a fun week with her sister Mary Lee Turk, her brother, Charles Bailey, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and even a couple of great, great nieces and nephews. This was a blessing, as just days after returning home from her trip she developed a severe sepsis infection and was admitted to hospital. After a brief, intense battle to get control of the infection, she died on June 30, 2018, surrounded by family and friends amid much love, singing and prayers.

All who knew Ruth saw her kindness, her faith, her humor and her ability to look at all life brings with courage and genuine clarity. She could be a bit “ornery” but there was never a false bone in her body. Ruth gave loyalty and love with her eyes wide open and never failed to forgive and offer compassion no matter what was thrown her way. She will be missed by all.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Lee Pressley Bailey, Mary Alice Swain Bailey, her sister Joyce Alice Resley, and her husband Bryan Bucy. She is survived by her siblings Mary Lee Turk, Charles Robert Bailey, her nieces Traci Enholm, Terri Ruth Resley, Sharla Kay Bailey, and Mary Alice Turk, her nephews Alan Turk, Todd Resley, Lee Bailey, her stepchildren Judy Wallace, Edwin Bucy, Helen Davis, Martin Bucy, and numerous great nieces and nephews and a few great, great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to donate to the Humane Society of Weld County, Trinity Episcopal Benevolent Fund, The American Cancer Society, or any organization of good works.