Ruth May Grace was born on September 30, 1930, at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado, to Leonard Wallace Grace and Mary Baldwin Grace. She was raised in Denver, attending Columbine Grade School and graduating from Manual Training High School in 1948. Ruth received a scholarship to Loretto Heights and completed her first year of nursing education at Mercy Hospital. After graduating and becoming a Registered Nurse, she worked at Mercy Hospital in Denver.
In 1952, Ruth entered the Discalced Carmelite Order in Iron Mountain, Michigan, where she spent four years before discerning a different calling. She later relocated to Colby, Kansas, where she met her future husband. On November 3, 1956, she married William (Bill) Joseph Moriarity. In Colby, Ruth embraced her cherished roles as wife and mother to their beloved children, Patrick Joseph, Mary Eileen and William Joseph who died during pregnancy.
Ruth continued her nursing career at Thomas County Hospital as a staff nurse. Committed to lifelong learning, she earned both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Counseling from Fort Hays State University. She served as Director of Nursing at Thomas County Hospital and later taught in LPN and ADN nursing programs, while still working weekends as a staff RN. Ruth always remembered and treasured the many student nurses she taught.
In the 1980s, Ruth and Bill moved to Hays, Kansas, where she found new opportunities for service and creativity. She became involved with the Hays Generations Page Committee and wrote a monthly column for the Hays Daily News. Deeply devoted to her Catholic faith, Ruth served as a Eucharistic Minister and Proclaimer at Holy Family Catholic Church, assisted with the parish RCIA program, and led a weekly Catholic Communion Service for the homebound. She also valued her membership in the Courtney-Spalding Chapter of the Kansas Society Daughters of the American Revolution (KSDAR).
Ruth embraced retirement with enthusiasm. She filled her days with gardening, quilting, traveling, and spending time with friends. She volunteered at her home parish, Holy Family Catholic church, the Fort Hays State University Senior Companion/Foster Grandparent Board, and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Her family later grew with the birth of her granddaughter, Amalia (Molly) J. Madrid, in 1994. Ruth considered it a special gift when following high school, Molly moved to Hays to attend and graduate from Fort Hays State University. In 2015, Ruth and Bill relocated from Hays to Loveland, Colorado, to be closer to their daughter Mary Eileen and her husband, Anthony (Tony) Madrid.
Ruth passed peacefully on December 27, 2025 in Loveland, Colorado after celebrating with her family Christmas and her granddaughter’s birthday. Ruth was preceded in death by her forever-beloved husband of 62½ years, William (Bill) Moriarity; their sons, Patrick Joseph and William Joseph; her parents, Leonard and Mary Grace; her sister, Maribeth Grace Augustyn; and her brother, Jim Grace.
She is survived by her beloved daughter, Mary Eileen Moriarity Madrid, and son-in-law Anthony (Tony) Madrid of Loveland, Colorado; her granddaughter, Amalia (Molly) J’anette Madrid Atherton, and husband Bryce Atherton; along with many cherished nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and dear friends.
Ruth will be remembered for her infectious giggle, her compassionate spirit, her warmth that made others feel seen and valued, and her lifelong devotion to faith, family, and service. Ruth’s greatest joys in life were her family and her Catholic faith.
A Rosary and Funeral Mass for Ruth will be held on: Thursday, January 15 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Loveland, Colorado. Rosary at 1000 followed by the Funeral Mass at 1100. A reception will follow in St. John’s Hall.
Burial will be January 17 at 1100 in the family plot at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Colby Kansas. Lunch will be served in the Sacred Heart Church Basement, 585 N. French Ave. Colby, KS 67701, following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, a Memorial Gift on behalf of Ruth Moriarity may be made either to the Catholic Foundation for the schools of Northern Colorado: 303-468-9885, 6160 S. Syracuse Way, Suite 111, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 https://archden.org/give/legacy/ . Or to the Sternberg Museum: 877-332-1165 3000 Sternberg Dr, Hays, KS 67601 https://sternberg.fhsu.edu/
Here is a link for the funeral on January 15th at 11:00am https://youtube.com/live/wwgz0Ahe6ww?feature=share