BANGOR and HERMON – Ruth Murray (McSweeney) Crosby, beloved wife of Howard A. Crosby, passed away at her home, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005. She was born April 29, 1918, on the family ranch in Upton, Wyo., the daughter of Lionel and Henrietta (Kunath) McSweeney. Life on the busy sheep and cattle ranch on the edge of Spring Creek, inspired a lifelong passion for learning and discovering. Ruth had ample opportunity to study the natural history and flora and fauna of her environment as she helped her parents with the flower and vegetable gardens, orchards, and beehives, and rode her horse, Lady, to distant pastures to help round up sheep and cattle. Her enthusiasm for learning carried over into the classroom. Upon graduating from Upton High School she was awarded a full four-year scholarship to the University of Wyoming for obtaining the highest score on the university’s statewide entrance exam. Ruth’s formal education was interrupted during the war when she joined the Civil Service and was dispatched to Anchorage, Alaska. There, she became quite skilled in the nuances of repairing airplane radios, learned to ski and met the love of her life, a young serviceman from Bangor. Ruth and Howard Crosby were married in Anchorage and journeyed back to Bangor after the war. Shortly after returning they purchased what was to become known as Hermon Motor Court on Miller Hill in Hermon. Year after year loyal guests made their annual visits to the country tourist cabins situated next to the apple orchard and the occasional cow. Here in this idyllic setting, Ruth and Howard raised their five children, welcomed friends and family from near and afar and set about exploring, learning and sharing the beauty of their ninety acres. As her children grew, Ruth welcomed the hustle and bustle of the many children who came for 4-H and scouting meetings. Her kitchen was filled with the aroma of freshly baked treats and there was always room at the table for extra guests. When her children were off to college Ruth found she had more time to delve into her passion for gardening. She studied and practiced plant propagation, was an avid hy-bridizer and seed collector and kept detailed records of all her efforts. She had a network of seed-swapping enthusiasts across the country. Always mindful of the fragility of the environment she explored non-chemical pest-management keeping a separate refrigerator for her mail-order ladybugs who obligingly kept her gardens aphid-free. In the 80’s, Ruth and Howard founded Crosby Gardens and Arboretum and continued to practice environmentally harmonious gardening and land preservation techniques. In doing so they made many new friends through the Maine and American Rock Garden Societies, The American Iris Society, the Bangor Nature Club and local garden clubs. As more and more people came to admire their gardens and the trails through the woods, Ruth and Howard decided it was important the land be kept in one piece and continue on as a hands-on learning laboratory for all to enjoy. They had already welcomed the installation of the Bangor Nature Club’s Mary Blethen Library into their home. The next step was to ensure that the land would continue on in one piece for all to enjoy. To this end they set up the Ecotat Trust and worked with and became very fond of the many volunteers who shared their goal. Ruth was an accomplished watercolorist, enjoyed traveling with her husband, and was a member of the Whirling Eights Square Dance Club for more than 20 years. Most important to her was her family. She took great joy and interest in her children and grandchildren’s activities and adventures. She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband, Howard; sons, Herbert and his wife, Judy, of Orono, Lewis of Old Town, Thomas and his wife, Judy, of Falmouth and daughters, Janet and her husband, Michael Carey, of Scarborough and Carol and her husband, Douglas Varney, of Greenbelt, Md.; and beloved grandchildren, Heidi Crosby of Madison, Wisc., Amy Crosby of Orono, Bjorn Carey of New York City, N.Y., Ingrid Carey of Orono, Karen Crosby of Boston, Mass. and David Crosby of New Brunswick. She was especially fond of her niece, Sheryl Bragg and family of Carmel. She was prede-ceased by her parents and her brother, Paul C. Phillips, all of Wyoming. The family would like to express their appreciation to Barbara, Bonnie, Dail, Jaime, Renee, Catherine and Karen for their kind and loving care of their mother. The family welcomes friends for a gathering with reminiscing and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor 6-8 p.m., Friday Oct. 28. A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at Ecotat (formerly Crosby Gardens) in Hermon, in the Spring, at a date to be announced later. Those who wish to remember Ruth in a special way may make gifts in her memory to: The Ruth Crosby Scholarship, care of The University of Maine Foundation, 2 Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469, or to Ecotat Trust, P.O. Box 6233, Hermon, ME 04402-6223. Memories of Ruth may be sent to the family at memories.of.ruth@gmail.com
RUTH MURRAY (MCSWEENEY) CROSBY
