Ruth and Harold Leal

Ruth and Harold loved their family almost as much as they loved their Lord and Savior, Jesus. Life-long residents of Siskiyou County, Ruth and Harold married in 1948 shortly after graduating Yreka High School together. They were inseparable until Harold died on January 30, of this year. Not one who really enjoyed doing things on her own, Ruth followed Harold on their journey home to be with the Lord just a few days later on April 19th, 2021. During their 71 years of marriage, Ruth and Harold traveled extensively in their various trailers and motor homes and loved the many adventures they undertook. First, traveling with their young family, then together after the boys went to college, then building churches with their friends at Servants on Wheels (SOWers) mission organization. They continued their RV journeys with their grandchildren after the family expanded, with Jim Ray's COS travel excursions, and kept going in their motor home until they just couldn't travel any longer. Ruth was born in 1930 to John and Ella Ensele, and was the youngest of her two brothers, Gene and Howard, and her sister, Harriet (Freshour). Ruth was raised in Montague through the depression and war years. After her marriage to Harold, the couple followed Harold's work with the State Division of Highways (before CalTrans) starting in Grass Lake, then to Weed, and finally to Yreka where they built their family home in 1955. Harold was born to Tony and Martha Leal on January 14, 1929, in Hawkinsville and was raised on the homestead until they moved into the big city of Yreka in 1942. Harold loved his Portuguese roots, and all his innumerable cousins and shirt-tail relatives throughout Northern California. He was actively involved assisting with the Hawkinsville Holy Ghost Festival for many years. Family has always been key to Ruth and Harold, and they were always in attendance at any graduation, wedding, baseball game, soccer game, or other special event with their kids and grandkids. Meemaw and Pappy to their grandchildren, Adam, Erin (Hoffman), Sarah (Nova), Caitlin (Gregory), Nathan, Jennifer, Anna (Masters), Mary (Daniels), David, and their 15 grandkids, Ruth and Harold will always be remembered as fun-loving, unassuming, and accepting of anything the "kids" did. Ruth and Harold lived and breathed the Biblical values of bringing their family up in the Word, and of loving all in full measure. After celebrating their 90th birthdays, their health declined and they were affectionately cared for by their sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Patty and Steve and Allison. So, to all their friends at Madrone Hospice and the Hospice Shop (where Ruth and Harold volunteered for many, many years), to all their friends at SOWers International, to their friends at Siskiyou Christian Fellowship, at the Tailgater Ministry, at Choices Yreka, and to everyone who ever had the opportunity and pleasure to meet them, Ruth and Harold would want you all to know our time together has not been fleeting, and it is certainly not "'til death do us part", but, as Jesus instructed, our love, our impact and our influence with those whom we have touched throughout our lives will be remembered until the end of the age. A celebration of their lives will be held at Siskiyou Christian Fellowship, 300 North Gold Street on Saturday, June 12th at 11 am. All are welcome. If attendees have not yet received a Covid vaccination, it is requested (but not required) that a mask be worn. A reception will be held after the service. Memorial contributions in memory of Ruth and Harold may be made to: Madrone Hospice, 225 Collier Circle, Yreka CA 96097, Yreka Tailgater Ministry, c/o Yreka United Methodist Church, 502 N. Fairchild, Yreka CA 96097, Choices Yreka, PO Box 1355, Mt Shasta CA 96067

Ruth and Harold Leal

March 4, 1930 - April 19, 2021