In Memory Of
Shirley Ruyack
1936
2023
Shirley Ruyack
July 6, 1936 — December 8, 2023
Shirley (Boggs) Ruyack, 87, of Topeka, passed away Friday, December 8, 2023.
She was born July 6, 1936, in Eolia, Kentucky the daughter of Dock and Elizabeth (Blair) Boggs.
She graduated from Topeka High School in 1952. She went on to attend Berea College in Kentucky.
Shirley enjoyed being with her family and traveling. Especially on her annual trips to Kentucky to visit family and school reunions at Pine Mountain.
She loved learning and reading. She volunteered as a reader for several elementary schools around the Topeka area. Her love for words continued throughout her life. She was an intellect and a published poet.
Volunteering for Shirley extended past the classroom and she would frequently go to Doorstep and volunteer with her sister, La Ange. During their time there, they got to know the families they were serving; especially the families that had kids. She was blessed in helping them get their needs and was able to help with her speaking Spanish.
Shirley loved listening to music and greatly appreciated art and nature. Time spent outside was wonderful to her and she treasured that.
She enjoyed being a gourmet cook and spending time with her women's group which started with EHU.
She loved her family fiercely. She treasured them and spending time with them every chance she could. She verbalized often that she spent a life well lived.
Shirley will be remembered for her infectious laugh and her joy she brought when being around her. Shirley loved her friends and she and Tom especially enjoyed their breakfasts with lifelong friends Gene and Mareta and Pat and Charlie. Finally, Shirley was a warm hostess to all who entered her home and usually had home baked cookies to offer.
Shirley married Tom Ruyack on June 25, 1961 in Yonkers, New York. Together they shared 62 years of marriage.
Survivors include her husband, Tom Ruyack; children, Brian (Amy) Ruyack, Maria (Pat) Denney, Jana (Mike) Logan and Philip (Kiki) Miller; grandchildren, Nick Ruyack and Tony Ruyack; grandchildren, Russell (Kiernan) Denney, Carson Denney, Sean Logan, and Matthew Logan; great-grandchildren, Liam Ruyack, Myles Ruyack; sisters, Germaine Lorraine Malloy and La Ange Ginavan and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dock and Elizabeth; siblings, Pauline "Paula" Hagen, Audrey Hawley, Eugene Boggs, and Georgette Elwood.
Cremation is planned. A Celebration of her life will be held at a later date, please check back.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Democratic Party.
To leave a message for her family online, please click the "Share Memories" button above.
She was born July 6, 1936, in Eolia, Kentucky the daughter of Dock and Elizabeth (Blair) Boggs.
She graduated from Topeka High School in 1952. She went on to attend Berea College in Kentucky.
Shirley enjoyed being with her family and traveling. Especially on her annual trips to Kentucky to visit family and school reunions at Pine Mountain.
She loved learning and reading. She volunteered as a reader for several elementary schools around the Topeka area. Her love for words continued throughout her life. She was an intellect and a published poet.
Volunteering for Shirley extended past the classroom and she would frequently go to Doorstep and volunteer with her sister, La Ange. During their time there, they got to know the families they were serving; especially the families that had kids. She was blessed in helping them get their needs and was able to help with her speaking Spanish.
Shirley loved listening to music and greatly appreciated art and nature. Time spent outside was wonderful to her and she treasured that.
She enjoyed being a gourmet cook and spending time with her women's group which started with EHU.
She loved her family fiercely. She treasured them and spending time with them every chance she could. She verbalized often that she spent a life well lived.
Shirley will be remembered for her infectious laugh and her joy she brought when being around her. Shirley loved her friends and she and Tom especially enjoyed their breakfasts with lifelong friends Gene and Mareta and Pat and Charlie. Finally, Shirley was a warm hostess to all who entered her home and usually had home baked cookies to offer.
Shirley married Tom Ruyack on June 25, 1961 in Yonkers, New York. Together they shared 62 years of marriage.
Survivors include her husband, Tom Ruyack; children, Brian (Amy) Ruyack, Maria (Pat) Denney, Jana (Mike) Logan and Philip (Kiki) Miller; grandchildren, Nick Ruyack and Tony Ruyack; grandchildren, Russell (Kiernan) Denney, Carson Denney, Sean Logan, and Matthew Logan; great-grandchildren, Liam Ruyack, Myles Ruyack; sisters, Germaine Lorraine Malloy and La Ange Ginavan and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dock and Elizabeth; siblings, Pauline "Paula" Hagen, Audrey Hawley, Eugene Boggs, and Georgette Elwood.
Cremation is planned. A Celebration of her life will be held at a later date, please check back.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Democratic Party.
To leave a message for her family online, please click the "Share Memories" button above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Ruyack, please visit our flower store.
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