Our Mother, was born Catherine “Kay” Ann Ruffner, September 6, 1924, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The Ruffner family migrated to California during the Great Depression. John and Hattie Ruffner settled in Los Angeles, with their five children, Marie, Kay, Frances, John and Joe. Kay attended Hollywood High School and worked at the Albert Sheets Candy Company, where she met her husband of 50 years.

On June 4, 1949, Kay Ruffner and John W. Gage of Los Angeles were married at the Santa Barbara Mission. John and Kay settled in Sherman Oaks, where they raised their two children, Sharon and Raymond. They resided in their Sherman Oaks home for 50 years where they were members of the St. Francis de Sales parish.

Every summer, John and Kay returned to Santa Barbara to “take a trip down memory lane.” They’d vacation at the Miramar Hotel with their children and eventually, their grandchildren. This traditional family vacation continued for nearly 40 years until the Miramar Hotel closed a decade ago.

Kay was a meticulous homemaker and a devout Catholic. Just prior to her death, Kay was excited about planning her son, Raymond’s birthday party on November 30. Ironically, on Ray’s birthday, God had a special plan for Kay.

Catherine “Kay” Gage is survived by her two children, Sharon Carvalho of Hemet and Raymond Gage of Riverside; grandsons, John Carvalho, Calcutta, India and Julian Carvalho, Irvine, California.

Local Riverside/San Bernardino obituaries and
death notices are generally provided by funeral homes and may be
edited for length by InstantRiverside.com. Basic obituaries
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Filed under Obituaries

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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