PEMAQUID – Ruth Etta Ives, 59, passed away Nov. 13, 2006, from a malignant brain tumor. Ruth was born Jan. 17, 1947, the daughter of Charles and Velma Drake and stepfather Robert Sutter of Wiscasset. Ruth was a 1965 graduate of Wiscasett High School and 1969 graduate of the University of Maine – Orono. From 1971 to 1972, Ruth studied theology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where she met her husband, the Rev. Robert Ives. They married in 1973 and moved to Monhegan Island, where for two years, they taught together in the one room schoolhouse while Robert was the island minister. They moved to Loud’s Island, Muscongus Bay, for two years, 1975-77, where they served as the island ministers in the summers and Sheepscott in the winters. After serving the New Harbor and Round Pond United Methodist Churches from 1977 to 1979, Ruth and Robert founded the Carpenter’s Boat Shop, Pemaquid. For 27 years, they have welcomed apprentices into their home to learn the craft of wooden boat building and to discern direction for their lives. Ruth always welcomed any person, offering a cup of tea and a blueberry muffin. She corresponded with thousands of friends and former apprentices, and wrote more than 50,000 letters while at the Boat Shop. Ruth also helped found the Community Housing Improvement Project, C.H.I.P., in 1984, and for nearly 15 years helped coordinate the annual ecumenical CROP Walk to benefit world hunger relief. Ruth was an active member of the Second Congregational Church, U.C.C., Newcastle. Ruth leaves behind her husband of 33 years, the Rev. Robert Ives of Pemaquid; children, Hilda Ives Wiley and her husband, Peter, of Cambridge, Mass., Jonathan Ives and Hannah Ives of Pemaquid; her brothers, Bob and Bill Sutter of Wiscasset and Scott Sutter of Boothbay. The memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at St. Patrick’s Church, Newcastle. A family burial will be held at Harrington Meetinghouse Cemetery, Pemaquid. In lieu of flowers, the Ives family requests that gifts be given to Community Housing Improvement Project, C.H.I.P, P.O. Box 6, New Harbor, ME 04554; or any organization that is working to promote justice, love and peace within your local community. Ruth always tried to think globally and act locally.
RUTH ETTA IVES
