Ruth Alice Moore Cashmore

Ruth Alice Moore Cashmore, 86, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away Aug. 18, 2016.  Born in Okla., Jan. 12, 1930, Ruth was the only child of Harold and Leta Johnson. Growing up, she was surrounded by many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Ruth graduated in 1947 from Caldwell High School in Caldwell, Kan.    Following high school graduation, Ruth attended nursing school in Wichita, Kan., and earned a nursing degree in 1950. She worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kan.   In 1951, Ruth married James L. Moore of Herington, Kan. They had four children together and were married for 44 years. Her husband James Moore and sister-in- law Loretta Heard preceded Ruth in death.  While raising their family, Ruth continued her education in the medical field.  In 1963 Ruth became the first Certified Respiratory Therapist in Kansas and was considered a pioneer in the Respiratory Therapy field.  She was the 125th individual in the country to earn these credentials.   In 1965 the family relocated to Lincoln, Neb.  Ruth started the Respiratory Therapy Department at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center where she served as the Directory of the Pulmonary Department for 20 years. She was president of the Nebraska Society for Respiratory Therapy and served on the Board of Directors for the American Lung Association. Ruth was most proud of her family. She stated many times the importance of having a family and remaining close. She stayed busy playing bridge, bowling, and golfing.    In 1998 Ruth met and married John (Jack) Cashmore in Bella Vista.  They had a loving marriage for  eighteen years. They enjoyed traveling to Frostproof, Fla., during the winter months. Ruth is survived by her loving husband, Jack Cashmore of Bella Vista; her three daughters, Sharon (Kenneth) Kalkwarf of San Antonio, Texas; Christine (Claude) Coe of Charlotte, N.C.; Jamie Moore of Bellingham, Wash.; son, Steven Moore of Seattle, Wash.; step-children, Kathy (Kevin) Hughes; Susan (Sue Wicks) Cashmore; Kelly Andrews and Leslee (Dick) Kretz;  three grandsons, Kyle (Shannon) Kalkwarf; Kevin (Cissy) Kalkwarf; Jerod (Sarah) Coe; granddaughters, Andrea (Mason) Snyder; Kelsey Moore; and great-grandchildren, Kate Kalkwarf, Emma, Hadley and Jackson Coe, Blake Cooper; and  sister-in-law, Sara Jane Mosier.  Her family would like to thank the doctors and nurses who took good care of her at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, the Circle of Life Hospice at Legacy Village and the kind people at Concordia Retirement Center.  Services will be Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 at 10 a.m. in the All Purpose Room (APR) at Concordia Retirement Center in Bella Vista, Ark.  Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association or the Circle of Life Hospice -Legacy Village.  Serving the family is the Bella Vista Funeral Home.  On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.