Ruby Lee (Conley) Elliott

Ruby Lee Conley Elliott passed away in her home on October 21, 2023 in Portland, Oregon, with her daughters by her side. Ruby was born in Seattle, Washington, on October 17, 1943 to the late Earnest and Cathryn Conley. Ruby was preceded in death by her older sister Vera and her beloved husband, Lee Edward Elliott. She is survived by her brother’s Ronald and Robert Conley.

Ruby will be forever remembered by her children Lisa (Gene) Potter, Lenore (Mitchell) Schatz, and Callie (Scott) Fjelstad; her grandchildren Allison (Nick) Davies, Amanda Potter, MacGregor Potter, Justin Schatz, Kayla Schatz, and Ciara Fjelstad; and her great grandchildren Lincoln, Edison and Molly Davies. She leaves behind many cherished extended family members and friendships, including Kristopher Hannum who she considered family, and her dear friend Mike Driver.

Ruby grew up in West Seattle and graduated from Evergreen High School in 1961. She earned her Associates degree at Olympic College in Bremerton in 1964 and attended the University of Washington. She married Lee Elliott on July 11, 1964 and soon after started their family. Ruby supported Lee as he completed his bachelor’s degree at Seattle University. She packed up and moved her very young family many times in support of her husband’s career. Moving to Ketchikan, Alaska, was probably their most memorable adventure. Their family settled in Centralia, Washington, in 1976. Ruby and her young daughters lost Lee to cancer in 1984. She was suddenly thrust back into the workforce as a single mother and set to work rebuilding and repairing a shattered life. She raised three independent and resilient daughters. She was so very proud of her family and was a devoted and much loved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She deeply grieved the loss of her husband for the remainder of her life.

Ruby left Centralia in 2002 and made her home in Olympia. She loved this community and the life she led there. She retired from the State of Washington Revenue Department in 2008 and spent much of her early retirement traveling with friends and family and exploring new interests. She joined the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church in 2011 and was honored to serve with her church in acts of community service. She was passionate about social justice, civic activism, wildlife conservation, and Pentatonix. At the end of her life, Ruby had just begun to make Portland her home. She decorated her new condo in bold colors and happy memories. She was looking forward to being active in her new community, hosting friends and family, and making new memories.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Newell-Hoerling's Mortuary in Centralia, Washington. Ruby will be laid to rest with Lee at Forest Grove Cemetery in Tenino Washington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Ruby by donating to Conservation NW (www.conservationnw.org ) We connect the big landscapes, restore iconic wildlife and protect our natural heritage for future generations in the Pacific Northwest. in her memory. Their mission is to protect, connect and restore woodlands and wildlife from the Washington Coast to British Columbia Rockies.

All who knew and loved Ruby, are welcome to join us as we honor our mother’s life.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruby Lee (Conley) Elliott, please visit our floral store.