Obituary of Ruth Shirley Hunter

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Ruth Shirley Hunter (Bolton), stitched a beautiful life in her community, as a devoted sister, mother and grandmother, she passed away peacefully at Peterborough Regional Health Centre on August 21, 2024, in her 89th year. Beloved wife of the late Terry Hunter (d. 2022). Loving mother of Leslie Greene (Bill), Andria Hunter (Marc Ouellette) and Nancy Dayaratne (Dave). Dear grandmother of Connor and Emily Greene, Célia, Joséphine (d.), Rémy and Camille Ouellette, Dylan Dayaratne and honourary granddaughter Josie Bosco. Missed by her sisters Guelda MacRae (d. Robert), Margaret (d. Max), brothers Gerald Bolton (Elaine), Allan Bolton (d. Pam), Carl Bolton (Shirley) and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her sisters Jean Mundell (Ray) and infant May Bolton, brother-in-law Larry Hunter (Jane) and sister-in-law Sunny McCollum (Neil).

Ruth was born mid-way through the Great Depression on October 21st, 1935. Fourth born to Charles and Correl (Crapp) Bolton, she began her stitches at Trent Canal Farms weaving a patchwork of love, dedication, and vibrant spirit. Ruth (Pooky) and her siblings, Jean (Bitty), Guelda (Ginny), Gerald (Job), Allan (Pike), Carl (Cob), Margaret (Marn) with memories of wee baby May, formed the Bolton clan. They can truly claim they hiked and skied uphill both ways to SS#3 Douro School. Over the fields and hills, Ruth hitched a ride to Lakefield High School. Typing and attention to details, threaded her next move, to business school in Peterborough for secretarial skills. Typing for The Co-Op (1955) was her first career patch. She put her presser foot down on a side job as the only secretary for Trentway Bus Lines. Ruth’s detailed hard work was appreciated by her brothers Gerald and Allan as they started their bus business.

She waxed her thread and it took on the shape of hearts, when Terry Hunter showed up at the Bolton farm to demonstrate an International McCormick combine to Charlie Bolton, and won the heart of his sweet daughter. Ruth chained her stitch and worked her magic gold ribbon connecting Terry to his new career at Canadian General Electric, Atomic Department. They tied it in 1963, at Lakefield United Church, embroidering flowers at their base home in Lakefield Park. Curling the ends in 1966, they built Loucks Lake cottage for a solid foundation. Together the chain kept running on down the road to Otonabee township, establishing Hunter Farm (1968). For Ruth, farm life returned, as she curled on into motherhood and swept in three beautiful daughters, Leslie (1966) Andria (1967), and Nancy (1970). Ruth gathering her yards, ran her stitch in these little girl’s lives with her warm smile and lively laughter. With a steady hand, guided their threads, pointing to the eye of the needle. She was the driving force behind her daughters’ surging passion for sports and activities, all the while, boiling the maple sap, extracting the honey, and warming the pies. The Lakefield United Church was the foundational loom in the family’s life tightening their bonds. Knitted into their beautiful farm and cottage were the sunny connections from Terry’s Niagara roots extending down to new generations. As a founding member of Kawartha Quiltmakers Guild (1981), patch working the inner circle of her life, her social network was ever expanding. She opened her heart and home establishing The Hunter Farm Bed & Breakfast (1990) with legendary hospitality and farm-fresh meals that delighted guests from all around the world.

Ruth’s beaming nature wove her and Terry’s gold ribbon, bonding Leslie & Bill (Connor and Emily), Andria & Marc (Célia, Joséphine, Rémy and Camille), Nancy & Dave (Dylan), welcoming Josie as her honorary granddaughter. Pleating the memories to lay out the nurturing block, with love and support, she bundled her grandchildren in life’s quilt.  Ruth and Terry appliquéd Hunter Farm in time’s weave 1968 to 2013. Ruth, backstitched in Lakefield, where she finished her seams in the values she held dearly. Here she lived life to its fullest, contributing her talents to Lakefield United Church and Quilts for Cancer. Her fluttering social butterfly nature made her a treasured friend and a beloved presence in the fabric of her community. Memories of her curling bonspiels, the farm, bed and breakfast, barn dances, reunions, weddings, and one lasting family union in Cuba, will forever glimmer in the point of her needle. Ruth’s joyous fabric stash of love leaves abundance to branch her endless legacies, as she snipped her threads in love, that brought her life’s quilt home.   

Friends and family are invited to call at THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES, LAKEFIELD CHAPEL, 66 Queen Street, Lakefield on Thursday September 5, 2024 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.  A funeral service will be held at Lakefield United Church, Regent Street, Lakefield on Friday September 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM followed by a reception in the fellowship hall of the church. Interment will follow at Rosemount Memorial Gardens, Peterborough.  Memorial donations may be made to the Lakefield United Church or Quilts for Cancer as expressions of sympathy, and may be made by contacting the funeral home at www.hendrenfuneralhome.comor by calling705-652-3355.