Ruth Gay-Crosier

GAY-CROSIER, RUTH

Our beloved Ruth Gay-Crosier peacefully passed away on July 10 at the Haven Hospice Care Center surrounded by her immediate family. Having for many years vainly struggled with a number of health challenges, including seriously reduced mobility, Ruth demonstrated an exemplary amount of courage as she battled against her related suffering.

Born in Aarau, Switzerland on June 18, 1939,  in the German-speaking part of the country, Ruth was schooled in Schafisheim and Lenzburg before going to Lausanne to perfect her French. She always had a great love for animals. Her interest in designing gardens since childhood honed a promising creativity. As a young adult she occupied an administrative position in a large firm where she met her future husband Raymond. They were engaged in 1960, married in 1963, and Ruth gave birth to her daughter in 1965. In 1966, when her husband was offered a career opportunity in Canada, she was the driving force who made sure that the small family would risk a move to an overseas country.  One year later, the family settled in Gainesville where Ruth applied her many talents to create an imaginative “homemaking” environment. She insisted that it imply much more than the routine work usually associated with this term.  Beyond raising a child, she jumped on the opportunity to design and decorate a house and an elaborate garden.  Once her daughter started school, Ruth embarked on an artistic journey that included serious painting, basket weaving, latch hook rug making, and gourd art. She also applied her talents to designing and creating her own unique fashion pieces. During this time, she was actively involved in the UF Art Gallery. As her own worst critic, Ruth discarded many of her own paintings deeming them unsatisfactory. The family continues to enjoy a considerable collection of small and large-sized remaining works. Her evolving style went from naturalistic to various modernistic tendencies, among which the influence of Miró dominated. Eventually she found her own signature style in her playful presentation of frogs. Ruth’s adventuresome spirit took her to many parts of the world where she found additional inspiration for her artwork.

Ruth leaves a loving family behind: her husband Raymond, their daughter Pascale Pring (Daniel), in Indian Hills, CO; her sisters Margrit Arnold (Hans) in Würenlos and Vrena Ried (Kurt) in Bubendorf, both in Switzerland.  Please make your contribution to the Haven Hospice Attic Resale Store at 300 N.W. 8^th Avenue.