SOUTH HADLEY:  Ruth A. Skuse, long time resident of South Hadley-but more recently of Chicopee and then Northampton, passed away during the night of November 20, 2017, after a wonderful life full of family and friends.  She had recently celebrated her 85th birthday with three of her children in attendance, along with many close relatives including her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as others joining the event via phone and skype. Ruth was born in Columbus, Georgia, moving to Holyoke upon her marriage on her 18th birthday to her new husband, remaining by his side for some fifty-five years until his death in November of 2005.  She spent her young adult life raising five children and actively participating in their various activities including scouting and Rainbow Girls/Demolay Boys, in addition to her membership in Eastern Star.  She was a strong proponent of education, encouraging all to excel in academics, but her greatest passion was music, ensuring that each of her children had the opportunity to play musical instruments.  In later decades she became passionate about crochet, and was happy to create items especially outfits for new grand and great-grand children.  Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Martin Skuse Sr, as well as daughter Martha Keochareon, RN.  She is survived by daughter Ruth Woodard (Jim), sons Michael and Martin Jr (Jeanne), and daughter Sheryl Bacon (Bob), as well as scores of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.  She also was predeceased by two sisters (Margaret and Anne), and leaves her brother, (Mesheck) Alfred/Jean Nethken in Texas, and Sister-in-law Peggy Casey of Westfield, MA; she also leaves many nephews and nieces across the country.  Nephew Roy Christiansen was especially helpful to the family over the decades.  A Funeral Home Service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke.  A calling hour will be held prior to the Service from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.  Burial will take place at a later date at the Agawam Veteran’s Cemetery where she will join Marty, her husband.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Peter’s Lutheran Church, 34 Jarvis Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040, or to the Holyoke Community College Foundation--Memo: Martha Keochareon Scholarship in Memory of Ruth Skuse, HCC (Holyoke Community College), 303 Homestead Ave, Holyoke MA  01040. To send personal condolences, please visit www.barryjfarrellfuneralhome.com.