SANDBERG(Handy)(McKamey) Ruby Doreena
July 28, 1929 - March 11, 2009
Ruby passed away suddenly, in Mission BC, minutes after returning home to family. She was born in South Sumas, BC to Elizabeth and Reginald Britton and grew up in Glen Valley and Aggasiz. She married Lloyd Handy, and raised her family on Nicomen Island. She worked hard, raising a large family and in her vocation as cook in various places, ending with the MSA hospital.
After Lloyd's death in 1970, Ruby and Granville McKamey shared 21 wonderful years together, filled with their work, and good times traveling, camping, fishing, and gardening, and at the end of the day, good music and dancing. Her capacity to extend a mother's love to both families, totaling 17 children, was remarkable.
Ruby was a wonderful cook, and her dinner parties and picnic lunches are legendary. She loved good books and passed the joy of reading on to her children and grandchildren. They moved to Christina Lake in 1990 and the beautiful gardens and gracious dinner parties continued. Her caring interest in others throughout her life led to many long lasting friendships.
After Granville's death in 1993 she opened her B & B "Ruby's Garden" and always sent her guests away with a gift from her garden or kitchen.
She met and married Roy Sandberg in 2003. They had several trips to visit family before an accident confined Roy closer to home. Ruby lost Roy just three weeks before her own passing.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Fern Griffiths, Iva Bullied and Ida(Coral) Nadon, three children, infant son Kenneth, son Bill Handy and daughter Elizabeth Kidd. She is survived by her twin sister Ruth Darel and sister Verda Langsford, children, Edith(Wayne) Martin, Heather Payne, Jerry(Marilyn) Handy, Bev(Gary) Exner, Laurie (Merv) Klassen, Morse Handy (Lydia Janzen), stepchildren, Sandy Buker, Sharon (Ray) Capnerhurst, Gail McKamey, Dennis (Roxanne) McKamey, Bob (Sue) McKamey, Magi McKamey, Roger (Leanna) McKamey, Gerry Davis (Tim Gaudet), John(Heather) McKamey; Sharon Marshall (Lyle Moore), numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and nieces and nephews,.
Ruby's beauty, graciousness and determination to live life well leaves an enduring impression on those whose lives she touched.
A memorial service was held in Mission March 14th.