Obituaries: Ruth (Porter) Piquet

WINNEMUCCA, Nev. – Ruth (Porter) Piquet, native of Long Creek, passed away at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Nevada on Jan. 2, 2009 after a short illness.

She was born on May 13, 1917, on a homestead located several miles from Long Creek to John and Pearl Colvin Porter. She attended high school in Long Creek, where she graduated in three years. She attended college at St. Helen’s Hall in Portland where she majored in textiles and design.

In 1933, officials from the Pendleton Round-Up Board saw her win a local horse race and were impressed with her horsemanship skills. They asked her to be a princess in the Pendleton Round-Up Royal Court, where she proudly served for two years. She recently rode horseback at the age of 89 in the 2006 Westward Ho Parade honoring the past Round-Up courts.

She married Virgil Charles Piquet on Dec. 26, 1937. They raised four sons, Virgil John, and triplets, David, Tebeau and Allen, as well as Penny and Marsha Temple who joined the family for two years while recovering from a family tragedy. While the boys were growing up, she was a member of the school board and taught 4-H leather craft and sewing.

Mrs. Piquet was a charter member of the Grant County Chapter of the Oregon Cowbelles and Nevada Cowbelles state president from 1982-1984. She was the first Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in Long Creek and served as Grand Page of the Grand Chapter in 1949.

In 1967, the couple moved to the Rock Creek Ranch outside of Golconda, Nev., and she started a 25-year career as Nevada state supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistics Division. Her duties allowed her to visit nearly every ranch and farm in the state which allowed her to meet and make new friends from several generations.

She created wedding cakes for friends and family over the years, and enjoyed hobbies including reading, sewing, crosswords, knitting, crocheting, leather crafts, card games, and the Wii with her great-grandson Tyler. She was involved in the Winnemucca Ladies Golf Club and was an avid golf enthusiast for the past 30 years.

She was preceded in death by her sisters Nina, Florence and Katrine, and also her parents, eldest son, husband, and brother Johnny. She is survived by her sons David, Tebeau and wife Gail, Allen and wife Terri; grandchildren, Tebeau, Chad, Chantelle, Rachelle, Raquel, Monique, Bridget, Danielle, Levi; nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held Friday, Jan. 9, and a memorial service will be scheduled later.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Humboldt County Hospice at P.O. Box 843 Winnemucca, NV 89446; Winnemucca Ladies Golf Club c/o Karen Aldrich P.O. Box 467 Winnemucca, NV 89446, or a favorite charity.