Mary Ruth Ogilvie

On the evening of July 11, 2014 Homer Ogilvie took his wife’s hand and guided her home.
Mary Ruth Aamodt Ogilvie (88) was born on March 19, 1926 to Arthur Herbert and Ada Elizabeth Brown Aamodt in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mary Ruth was the beloved oldest sister of Joan (William Lanier) and David (Christa Eisert). Mary Ruth graduated from West High and earned a PHT (“Putting Hubby Through”) from the University of Utah. She married Homer Franklin Ogilvie on March 27, 1947 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They have eight children, Diane and Russell Pope, Suzanne and Richard Ware, Kathleen and Ronald Davis, Julia and George Witmer, Stephen and Debbie, Dawna Lynn and Troy Ross, John, and Karrie Ann; 23 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren, with more on the way. The most important aspect of Mary Ruth’s life was her family.
Music and Mary Ruth are synonymous. She was a beloved piano teacher, she played the piano and organ in church (starting at 12 years old), and she played the organ regularly at two temples. Mary Ruth also accompanied many singing groups and soloists during her musical career. She found great joy in playing the piano at home, even days before she joined Homer. She passed that love of music to her family, to those she taught and accompanied, and to those who heard her play.
Mary Ruth was known for her great kindness. She could often be found delivering flowers to neighbors who she felt would benefit from knowing someone cared. She could find beauty where others might not see it. We seldom heard her say anything negative about anyone.
Mary Ruth was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served wherever she was called. She loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and taught her children the importance of the plan of salvation.
Mary Ruth brought happiness to those around her. She had a quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor. Many people have been warned that she would sue them if she didn’t get her way. As far as her family knows, she never carried out the threat. She would often say, “I’m not hard to get along with as long as I get my own way.”
Mary Ruth was willing to do things for the benefit of her children she did not like to do, such as driving, camping, and toward the end – standing up. When her children were growing up they never knew that she was afraid of lightning and thunder because she didn’t want them to be frightened as well.
Mary Ruth was a consummate creator of beautiful handwork. She created hundreds of counted-cross stitch and embroidered pieces. Many of her counted cross-stitch pieces won ribbons at the Salt Lake County and Utah State Fairs. The back of her works looked almost as good as the front. She delighted many of her friends and family with cross stitch pieces that contained the names of their family members using a crossword puzzle format. She designed each one personally.
Although she is missed by many here, we know that many more rejoiced in heaven when she was called home, especially her husband, her mother and father, her beloved sister, and grandmother.
The family would like to thank all those who made it possible for her to be in her own home when she passed away, and helped to make her final days more comfortable.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the Granger 6th Ward chapel (3274 Hillsdale Dr. West Valley City, Utah). A viewing will be held one hour prior to the funeral services at the Granger 6th Ward, as well as on Friday, July 18 from six to eight in the evening at the Redwood Memorial Estates (6500 S Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah).
Interment will be at Redwood Memorial Estates Cemetery.
Online condolences can be entered at www.redwoodmortuary.com.