Obituary

Ruth Magdalen Marley (nee Bradley), also known as Mum and Granny, passed away peacefully on January,18 2025 surrounded by loved ones.

Ruth was born in Maymyo, Burma on Jan 6, 1942, during the WWII era. Her father was an officer in the British Army stationed in British Burma.  When the Japanese invaded Burma soon after Ruth’s birth, she was evacuated with her mother and sisters to India, which was then also governed by the British.  Sadly, Ruth’s father died but not before sending a letter to her mother asking that she be named “Ruth,” a letter she cherished her whole life.

Ruth had 4 sisters and 1 brother, and the family of 7 lived in an Indian city called Pune in housing provided for war widows.  It was a very difficult, impoverished childhood since a widow with 6 children was not given many opportunities for work.  She experienced many hungry days whilst scrambling for life’s basic necessities.

Ruth attended the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Pune where she was well liked and was made “Head Girl” (equivalent to class president). She excelled at sports and was captain of the girls’ netball and volleyball teams.  She was also interested in the performing arts, specifically theater.  As a child, she, her siblings, and her friends once put on a dramatic performance for the neighbors. She remembered that event in great detail, describing with excitement the skits, songs, and even the sweet lemonade and the cucumber and tomato sandwiches they served the audience.  As a young woman, Ruth continued to perform in community theater alongside her husband Hugh, who, shared her passion, and also acted in and directed plays.

Ruth married Hugh Marley in 1961 when he was a young officer in the Indian army.  They remained married for almost sixty years until Hugh’s death in 2019.  Together they raised 7 children while living in some of the most geographically diverse areas imaginable.  Because Hugh was both an Army officer and a civil engineer, the family moved around often as he was responsible for building roads, dams, and dry docks.  In addition to Pune, their family lived in a city called Hyderabad, and they also spent a few magical years living in Tenga Valley in the foothills of the Himalayas.  This area was so remote the tribal people there had never had exposure to life outside their mountains.  They also lived in tropical India in a house named The Yellow Submarine, which was located in a naval town on the Bay of Bengal.  There they experienced powerful cyclones that roared through every year.  Their family home was in a town called Yercaud in Tamil Nadu, and they often stayed there for weeks or months while waiting for Hugh begin a new project.  Ruth learned to adapt as she found herself moving her family from cities where they resided in comfortable, fully staffed homes to largely uninhabited areas with semi-primitive housing and no amenities.

In 1979 Ruth, along with her husband, then a retired Colonel, moved their family to Mission Viejo in the US where they finally put down roots and continued to raise their children.  Their home was always busy and noisy, and more often than not, there was an extra guest for dinner, especially when she cooked her amazing Anglo-Indian dishes.

Ruth had a special place in her heart for animals, and their house was a haven for rescues.  In India, there was a line of stray dogs outside their house every evening waiting for their dinner, which she cooked daily.  She took in and rehabilitated countless injured birds and animals.  Most memorable was an orphaned, newborn squirrel her sons found and brought home. She nursed him back to health and slowly reintroduced him into nature.  He continued to visit her long after his release, often coming to the back door looking for a treat.

She also had a green thumb and took great pleasure from working in her garden.  Their house in Mission Viejo had a large yard with a vegetable garden and fruit trees that she tended to daily.  When she moved to Belmont Vilage, an assisted living facility, they put her in charge of what fondly became known as “Ruth’s Garden.”  It was so successful that the chef would sometimes feature a dish using vegetables she harvested from her garden.

Although she struggled with lifelong, sometimes debilitating depression, Ruth found time to be of service in her communities. She tutored children in English while living in India.  In Mission Viejo, she volunteered at various churches and took an interest in caring for elderly people.  She delivered Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and became a Eucharistic Minister.  She really enjoyed being able to serve people and formed many strong bonds with the those she helped.

She also loved to read and would often spend hours tucked away on the couch with one of her novels.  When her children had grown, Ruth went back to school, attending classes at Saddleback College, where she discovered a passion for writing.  She documented her experiences in India with a series of stories that her family will treasure.

Ruth was a devout Catholic who instilled in her children the value of a life lived in faith.  She and Hugh had been parishioners of St Kilian’s for over 40 years where family members have celebrated Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, weddings and funerals.  Ruth’s children attended Catholic school when living in India, served as altar boys and girls, and sang in church choirs.

Ruth is survived by her children, Hugh (Melissa), Pamela (Scott), Mark (Lynn), David (June), Bruce (Christine), Karen (Brian), and John (Meggin).

As a practicing Catholic, Ruth believed that we will all be reunited in Heaven.  Her family believes she entered Heaven holding her husband’s hand, surrounded by all her animals and birds, walking towards the loved ones who went before her, straight into the waiting arms of her mother and father.  Rest in peace Mum.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center where Ruth and Hugh adopted their beloved dog, April.