Ruth Helen Yates (22 Dec 1949 - 30 Aug 2017)

In loving memory of Ruth Helen Yates
who sadly passed away on Wednesday 30th August 2017
Aged 67 years
She will be sadly missed by her loving family and friends.
No flowers please.
Donations if desired for 'Cancer Research UK' may be made via this page

Ruth was born on 22nd December 1949 in Madras (now Chennai) India. Her parents were Terence and Lilian Whitehouse. Ruth spent an idyllic childhood climbing trees and watching monkeys. The family moved back to England in 1960 on the RMS Strathnaver.
She went to Catholic schools in Gillingham and Chatham leaving at 16 and working for a short time in the Midland Bank in Rainham. She loved going to a Coffee bar called the parlour and dancing at the Pav. She first married at the age of 17 to John Curran and they were blessed with their 2 children John and Becky. Ruth and John divorced in 1977.
Ruth had started Teacher training by this time and in 1978 became a full time teacher at Maundene Primary School Chatham.
She then left Maundene to go to Whitehill Primary School Gravesend and finally to Tunbury Primary School for more than 20 years until she retired in 2012.
Ruth met her second husband John Yates in 1994 and they married on 21st August 1997 and spent the next 20 years together in a blissfully happy marriage.
Unfortunately Ruth was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue after a biopsy in July 2016, after operations in October 2016 and January 2017 she was told that the cancer had been completely removed. This however proved to be untrue and the cancer returned far more aggressively in her neck and this time doctors were unable to help her and she passed away on 30th August 2017 at home with her husband and daughter. Ruth remained positive throughout her illness and faced it bravely saying she had had a good life and her family and friends should not be sad when she was gone.

Rest in Peace