Obituaries

Ruth, as she was affectionately called by her children, was born on February 23, 1921, the second child of Harry and Ruth Reddick. She lived much of her early life on Ojai Road in Santa Paula, riding horses, making everyone in the family laugh, and attending the liberal, but creative, Ranch School on the Lingdooley Ranch just outside of Santa Paula. It was there that Ruth discovered her creativity, and formed a life-long friendship with Lillian Converse, with whom she later attended Mills College and later still, shared many family adventures. During these years and beyond, Ruth also became a protégé and friend of Jesse Arms Botke. Ruth’s art reflects much of what she learned from that great artist.The family beach cottage at the Faria “Rincon” was built in the early years, and it was there that Ruth became infatuated with Robert Dana Teague, whose family also had a beach cottage just down the way. Dana couldn’t resist Ruth’s red tomato bathing suit, and it wasn’t long before he was hooked, as well. From the age of thirteen, Dana was the love of Ruth’s life. On July 1st, 2007 they would have celebrated their 64the wedding anniversary.Ruth attended Santa Paula High School and then Mills College, graduating with a degree in art in 1943. Dana, whose mother had just died in June of that year, came home on furlough for his mother’s funeral, and then traveled to Berkeley to marry Ruth on July 1st, 1943. The wedding was planned in one day!From there, Ruth and Dana traveled to Texas, then Colorado, then Charleston, before Dana was shipped to Italy, and Ruth returned to the new Reddick home in the same canyon as Lindooley Ranch (later to be named by Ruth, “O’Hara Canyon”). After the war, Dana returned to claim his bride, and they set up life at the Universalist Church parsonage in Santa Paula. Dana began his photographic career, and they began their family – with Suzanne and Gretchen.In 1951 they moved to O’Hara Canyon where they had purchased 3 acres on the Reddick Ranch. Dane was born soon after they moved into the new house. While pregnant with Timothy, they lost Gretchen to lympho sarcoma. It was a tragedy from which Ruth never fully recovered.The ensuing years were filled with many activities, all of which were fully embraced by both Ruth and Dana. From Blue Birds to Cub Scouts, to school productions (by the adults) of “Guys and Dolls”, Ruth was a joyful and enthusiastic (if somewhat non-traditional) participant and leader. She was also a partner with Dana in their photography business. She was always at his side, helping to set up the shots, making everyone laugh or smile through her antics, and then she would say, “Take it, Boom”. “Boom” was the name that they called each other.The Teague house became a gathering place for all of the kids’ friends and their friends, as well. Whether there were ballet productions on the deck, band practice (also on the deck), or ping pong and badminton tournaments, there was always lots of laughter and fun. Ruth even taught the facts of life (very creatively with a color felt board) to many of these young people. Ruth instituted her famous 4:00pm Tea Parties as a way for everyone to share the stories of the day. And then there were the frequent “Country Dances” with square dancing called by Gale Prytower.In 1964 Ruth and Dana hosted an AFS exchange student, Marie de Haan, from South Africa. Marie became an integral part of the Teague family, and remains closely connected with them to this day.In later years, the “Country Dance” extravaganzas gave way to Art Amid the Avocados, where local artists gathered on the driveway to display and sell their art. Ruth’s door was always open; the more the merrier! In the early 1980’s, Ruth served on the Grand Jury, which she very much enjoyed.As she became a grandmother, she continued to impart her songs, humor, and creative slant on life to her grandchildren and their friends. While her health has deteriorated in the last several years, her love of life and her enjoyment in her family and friends has remained strong. She is survived by her best friend and long-time sweetheart, Dana, her three children, Suzanne Pidduck, Dane, and Timothy Teague, her brother, Harry Reddick, Jr., her grandchildren, Krista Koch, Kevin and Brian Pidduck, J.Dana, and Grace Teague, Anna and Patrick Teague, her great grandchildren, Dylan and Annika Koch, her niece and 3rd daughter, Stephanie Orr, Marie de Haan, her 4th daughter, her niece, Kathleen Yager, nephews, Andrew, David, and Daniel Reddick, as well as the many, many people whose life she has touched.A non-traditional, song-singing, poem-reciting, laughter-filled family memorial service will be held on July 1st, the 64th anniversary of Ruth and Dana’s rich and loving marriage. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s name to the Ventura Country Museum of History and Art.Death NoticesHelen Katherine McKown, 87, Ventura, homemaker, died June 6, 2007. Arrangements by Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.Tina Lanette Brady, 45, Santa Paula, medical records processor, died June 7, 2007. Arrangements by Skillin-Carroll Mortuary, Santa Paula.