Ruby Huck: ‘the quiet rock who held us all together’

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Ruby Huck

Ruby Huck, our beloved “Granny,” passed away unexpectedly on June 17th. She was the matriarch of the family, full of stories, quick wit, and sweetness until the very end.

Born and raised in Antlers, Oklahoma, Ruby often shared memories of her childhood, how her mother sewed her dresses from flour sacks and how the family would hitch up the team of horses to a wooden wagon to go into town. Every time she told that story, we’d pause and ask, “Wait… like, actual horses? A wooden wagon?” She’d just smile and say, “Times sure have changed, but memories last forever.” And so they do.

Ruby met the love of her life, August Huck, in 1948, and they were married for nearly 70 years before August passed away in 2012. Together, they built a life rooted in hard work, deep love, and fierce devotion to family. After building their own home and farming in Oklahoma, Ruby and August moved to Garberville, California, in 1954 in search of better opportunities for their young family. They raised four children Kathleen, Bill, Steve, and David among the towering redwoods, clear rivers, and beauty of Humboldt County. August and Ruby raised their four children on the family compound in Southern Humboldt. The siblings, close in age, shared a childhood full of laughter, adventure, and mischief, forging an unbreakable bond that has lasted a lifetime.

August and Ruby parented with love, patience, and the kind of flexibility that raising kids in the 60’s and 70’s required. It was on this strong foundation that their family grew, tight-knit, loving, and deeply rooted. These bonds have carried through the generations, connecting not only their children, but also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren in lasting, meaningful ways.

Granny and Poppy were a true team, whether raising a family or starting a stubborn logging truck. One memorable example: Poppy’s old ’50s Mac logging truck needed a pull to get going, and Granny, ever the fearless co-pilot in life, would tow him down West Coast Road with their 1960 Corvair. The trick? Build up just enough pressure so Poppy could stop before he ran the Corvair over. Somehow, they always pulled it off. It was chaotic, a little risky, and totally them. Together, they could make anything work and they instilled those independent macgyver-like problem solving skills into their children and grandchildren. 

Granny was known for her kindness, patience, generosity, and her nonjudgmental heart. A talented photographer and passionate gardener, especially of roses, she also had a legendary green thumb and an unmatched skill for cooking. If it came out of a box, it didn’t come out of Granny’s kitchen. She cooked everything from scratch, always in cast iron, and we’re pretty sure her pans were seasoned with both butter and love. 

Granny and Poppy built not just a home, but a haven. Her children and grandchildren grew up on the family property, wild and free, playing in the woods, coated in dirt, returning at sunset to the sound of Granny ringing her bell. Meals were served at the sturdy picnic table that Poppy built, with dishes like Granny’s world famous blackberry pie making appearances more often than we probably deserved. As much as she loved her other hobbies, her greatest joy was raising her children, and being the best Granny to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Granny and Poppy devoted their time to loving and raising the next generations, offering free childcare, endless snacks, and a warm, safe place where you were always welcome. Summers spent with Granny were the stuff of childhood legend: blackberries to pick, rivers to swim in, and bedtime stories told in that soft southern drawl. We spent entire summers with our grandparents; and when it was time to leave, we would beg our parents to let us stay.

Granny especially cherished the yearly visits from the Texas cousins,  just this past summer, she was surrounded by even more great grandbabies, squealing with joy and running amuck at the family property.  She had a special way of making every single person in the family feel important, loved, and completely accepted. Granny created such a special bond with her family that even as adults her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were always present and loved spending time with her. 

Ruby had a soft spot for the Humboldt County Fair, and she made it a tradition to enter her grandchildren’s creations from pies to photos to jam, just to watch their faces light up when they won ribbons. She was our biggest fan, our constant cheerleader, and the quiet rock who held us all together.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, August, and her dear son David, who was tragically killed at the age of 15 by a drunk driver. While we ache from losing her, we find peace in knowing she is finally reunited with the son she missed every single day.

Ruby is survived by her children: Kathleen, Bill, and Steve. Her grandchildren: Lacey (Trevor), Haley (Cory), David (Jen), Micheal (Leah), Shiloh (Claire), Amber (Keith), and Tyler (Allison), and twelve great-grandchildren who will forever cherish blackberry-stained hands and memories wrapped in her love.

There will be a private burial at Garberville Cemetery at a later date. We would like to extend a special thank you to those who helped Granny remain in the home she loved.

She lived a long life full of love, laughter, and a close knit family.  Granny leaves behind a legacy of warmth, grit, grace, and the kind of unconditional love that only a grandmother like her could give. We’ll miss her forever, but oh, how lucky we were to have her in our lives for so long.