Ruth Maxine "Mica" Whitehead Pearson

Ruth Maxine “Mici” Whitehead Pearson, age 87, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, July 18, 2010 at Maureen’s Adult Foster Care.

A memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 26, 2010 at Life Path Church of Nazarene, 1481 S. Columbus, Medford, Oregon. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Ruth was born September 27, 1922 in Albia, Iowa to Joseph & Flossie (Carpenter) Whitehead. In the middle of her senior year of high school she moved to Wilbur, Oregon. She was valedictorian of her class. On July 2, 1940 in Vancouver, Washington she married Elmer Pearson. She worked at a factory in Portland during the war until they moved to Canyonville, Oregon and raised her three children on their ranch. In 1964 she worked at Myrtle Creek Dairy Queen. Later they bought the Rogue Haven Motel which she managed. After they sold the motel, she graduated in 1979, at the age of 56, from Rogue Community College with an Associate Degree in Secretarial Science. She managed the Knights Inn in Grants Pass and later moved to the Portland area to manage other apartment complexes and later bought a small apartment complex. After 50 years of marriage she divorced and in 1990 she came to live with her daughter, Kathy in Grants Pass.

She volunteered with PTA and as a campfire leader. She financially donated to Grace Communion International in addition to other various personal and needy causes. She was devoted to God and her family and applied His principles throughout her life. She always tried to give her family wise guidance, protection, and activities to become productive and loving adults.

Her hobbies included reading, sewing, crossword puzzles, word searches, clothing and shoe shopping and coordinating her outfits with accessories. She especially loved her cats and enjoyed collecting cat and bird ceramics and knick-knacks.

Survivors include her former spouse, Elmer Pearson of Grants Pass; two daughters, Kathryn Berge of Grants Pass and Rebecca Wylie of Albany; a son, Michael Pearson of Dayton; a brother, Harold Whitehead; grandchildren, Steven Jr. Wylie, Teresa Wylie Seufert, Cynthia Berge Wagy, Tonjia Berge Haskins, Carrie Pearson Lowther and David Pearson; great-grandchildren; Kathleen, John, Delmar, Zachary, Angelea, Steven, Keyera, Briauna, Caleb, Ayden, Danika and several great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Flossie and Joseph Whitehead; a sister, Lola Whitehead Johnson and a brother, William Whitehead.