The gentle soul of Ruth Helen "Petey" Walsh has peacefully left the confines of her physical being after a life of more than 97 years of loving and giving.  Petey was born in San Rafael, California, May 6, 1925, to Victor William "Casey" Jones and Ruth Murray Jones.  She graduated from San Rafael High School, College of Marin, and San Jose State University.  She walked with her parents across the Golden Gate Bridge on its opening day of May 27, 1937.

John Joseph Walsh and Petey married in 1948 and raised their two children in Santa Clara and Campbell, California. Summers were spent with her children and friends at her parents' cabin near Carnelian Bay, Lake Tahoe, which they had owned since 1929.  After her marriage ended, Petey took care of the old San Rafael family house until she ventured north to live with friend, John Beaudet, outside the town of Shasta Lake, California. There she volunteered at the Shasta Historical Society in nearby Redding where she restored native American baskets and taught herself basket making, producing beautiful pine needle baskets of incredible quality.  Petey later took up full time residence at her beloved Lake Tahoe in a new house built on the site of the old family cabin.  She became involved with the Gate Keepers Museum at Tahoe City and was honored as a Pioneer of Lake Tahoe.  Eventually, the winters of Tahoe made it difficult to live there so she spent time on Guemes Island, loving the quiet and solitude, and then moved to Anacortes permanently in 2010 to be closer to family.  Everyone loved Petey. She had many friends whom she always treated with kindness and respect.

Petey will be at peace in the universe with her parents, Victor and Ruth, sister Dorothea "Dodie" Jones Hill, and their brother, Deane Richard Jones, lost in WWII. Petey is survived by her son Michael P. Walsh (Katherine) of Foster City, CA, daughter Marilyn "Missy" Walsh-Smith (Gary Smith) of Anacortes, treasured grandson Peter Deane Walsh Smith, nieces Colleen "Cokie" Nichols and Vicki Herring, nephew Scott Hill, and their families.

Special thanks to Lighthouse Memory Care and Hospice of the Northwest for the compassionate care she was given at the end of her life. At Petey's request there will be no service. Remember her as you walk the beach, hike the trails, or when admiring nature's treasures. Raise a glass to a life well-lived.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the following are suggested: Lake Tahoe Historical Society, www.laketahoemuseum.org | Hospice of the Northwest, www.hospicenw.org | Skagit County Meals on Wheels, marchformeals.org or the charity of your choice.

To share memories of Petey, please sign the online guestbook at www.evanschapel.com/obituary/petey-walsh