Ruth Ann Jackson Tokasey nee (Suttmiller)

With full hearts and a few good laughs, we celebrate the unforgettable life of Ruth Jackson Tokasey — a firecracker of a mother, stepmother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse, teacher, and family matriarch who lived 93 remarkable years with fierce love, sharp wit, and a sparkle in her eye. Born in Dayton, Ohio, on August 6, 1931, Ruth was the daughter of Theodore and Caroline Suttmiller and youngest of seven children. From the start, she carried a stubborn strength, a generous heart, and a love for life that would never waver. She was a proud graduate of Corpus Christi Grade School (Class of 1945) and Julienne Catholic High School (Class of 1949), where she forged lifelong friendships that would last her lifetime. She spent over five decades as a labor and delivery nurse — starting at Good Samaritan Hospital in 1952 — and helped welcome more babies into the world than we could possibly count (and probably gave a few doctors an earful along the way). She had the pleasure of working alongside her Sister-In-Law, Josie Suttmiller (Wife to Bill Suttmiller). In 1985, Ruth traded Ohio’s greenery for the sun and mountain views of Fountain Hills, Arizona. She loved feeding hummingbirds, enjoying the quiet beauty of the desert, reading endlessly, working on sudoku puzzles, and occasionally savoring a glass of Jameson during special moments with family and friends. Not one to sit still, Ruth and her daughters took over Teddy Bear Preschool and turned it into a thriving Montessori school, proving that her nurturing spirit — and theirs — wasn’t just reserved for the delivery room. In a beautiful full-circle moment, some of the very children Ruth had delivered earlier in her nursing career found their way into her preschool classrooms, growing up under her watchful and loving eye once again. But Ruth’s true masterpiece was her family. She raised eight beautiful children — Joe (the late Marianne (LuLu)), Mike, the late Chris, Carrie, Collette, Loretta, Matt, and Elisa (partner Julie Michael) — along with her cherished stepchildren, Matthew Tokasey (Wife Lisa) and Tony Tokasey — with deep devotion, courage, and unconditional love. Each of them reflects her strength, wit, and fierce independence. She was endlessly proud of them, and her greatest joy was simply being with her family. • Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren: • Joe – Joseph, Stephanie (Daughter Lucinda), and Thomas • Mike – Daniel and Allison • Chris – Sydney and Kayte • Carrie – Alex and Abigail • Collette – James (Wife April, son Connor), Eric (Wife Jerene, Children Harlan, Lyndon, and Lainey), and Ana • Matt – Matthew, Charlie, and Nathan (Father of the late Lily Re’Nee) • Matt Tokasey - Kyle and Lauren She adored her 15 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Ruth loved deeply, and that love extended far beyond bloodlines — if you were a friend of the family, you were family to Ruth. Her door was always open, her arms always wide, and her table always had room for one more. Anyone who knew Ruth knew she had a saying — or two — ready for you at any moment. She never missed an opportunity to look out for you (and keep you on your toes), whether it was a quick "Are you wearing that?" before heading out the door, or a well-meaning "Would you like me to press those pants?" She had an eagle eye for the little things: a new haircut ("Did you get your haircut?"), or a slouch that needed fixing ("Stand up straight!"). It was all part of Ruth’s way of loving you — always wanting you to look your best, stand tall, and carry yourself with pride. One of Ruth’s greatest friendships was with Tess Dover, her best friend of over 40 years. The two met while working opposite shifts at Scottsdale North Hospital and quickly became inseparable. What began as a bond between co-workers blossomed into decades of shared dinners, family stories, and loyal companionship that withstood the test of time. Ruth was also preceded in death by her beloved brothers Cliff, Alvin, Ted, and Bill Suttmiller, and her sisters Helen and Sister Marjorie. She often spoke fondly of her siblings, who undoubtedly welcomed her with open arms and plenty of laughter. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Jim Jackson (1978), her second husband, John Tokasey (2000), her beloved daughter-in-law, Marianne (LuLu) (2006), her son, Chris Jackson (2024), and her great-granddaughter, Lily (2016). Their memories remained close to her heart. Ruth’s life was a master class in resilience, humor, and unconditional love. She made you feel like you belonged — whether you were family by blood, marriage, or sheer good fortune. Her spirit lives on in every laugh shared around a family table, every hummingbird sighting, every mountain sunset admired, and every quiet moment of grace. To be loved by Ruth was to be wrapped in fierce loyalty, endless pride, and a stubborn, beautiful kind of joy. She left this world better — and a lot livelier — than she found it. Ruth’s final resting place will be exactly where she wanted it — next to Jim, where she spent a great deal of time during their lively years together. Cheers to Ruthie, the life she lived and the legacy she left behind.