Nancy Ruth Carruthers

Springfield Union
Springfield, Mass.
Sunday, June 5, 1966
p. 4C

MISS CARRUTHERS WED SATURDAY
Is Bride of Boston Man in Longmeadow Church

Miss Nancy Ruth Carruthers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Basil Carruthers of Windsor Pl., Longmeadow, was married Saturday afternoon to Charles Knapp Leadbetter, son of Dr. and Mrs. Wyland Fenway Leadbetter of Marlborough St., Boston. The double ring ceremony took place at 1 in First Church of Christ Congregational, Longmeadow, with Rev. Daniel Levitt, pastor, officiating.

Peonies and lilacs decorated the chancel for the service. Traditional bridal music was played by Miss Ruth Perry, church organist.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a formal gown of silk-faced peau de soie. The empire bodice of Alencon lace was fashioned with a modified Sabrina neckline and had elbow sleeves. The softly draped A-line skirt was accented by separate chapel length train over which fell lace trimmed panels. Her full veil of silk illusion was held by a wreath of orange blossoms, and she carried cascading miniature gardenias with center cluster of the larger Belmont gardenia accented with rose ivy and variegated pittisporum.

Four attendants served the bride. Mrs. Alan B. Wayne of Chicago, Ill., the former Jo Ann Peters of Longmeadow was matron of honor, and bridesmaids were Miss Joan Hansberry of Boston and Miss Barbara Mazzel of Johnston, R.I., Miss Sharon Ann Carruthers of Kingston, niece of the bride, served as junior bridesmaid.

Identically dressed, the attendants wore a two-tone linen weave gown. An empire band of white Venetian lace with a purple velvet ribbon set off the mauve pink portrait bodice. The slim a-line skirt of spring lilac color was floor-length. Their headdresses were miniature carnations accented with pink sensation roses and ivy.

Mr. Leadbetter's best man was his brother, Wyland Fenway Leadbetter, Jr. of Boston. Ushering duties were assumed by Bruce Lyman of New London, Conn., John Noseworthy of Portsmouth, N.H. and Edwin Carruthers of Kingston, brother of the bride.

Storrowton Village, West Springfield was the scene of the reception following the ceremony. Decorations carried out the same pink and lilac theme. Greeting guests outdoors, Mrs. Carruthers wore a pink crepe princess line gown with an overblouse of pink Venetian lace. A matching hat completed her ensemble. The bridegroom's mother chose a softly drapped muted green and blue chiffon gown accented with flecks of purple. Both mothers carried corsages of cymbidian orchids. The guest registry was kept by Mrs. William B. Harvey of Tenafly, N.J., sister of the bride.

Following the wedding trip to Lobster Lake, Me., the couple will establish residence at 226 Marlborough St., Boston. The bride's traveling suit was green floral print with matching accessories.

Mrs. Leadbetter was educated in Longmeadow schools and graduated from Faulkner Hospital School of Nursing, Boston. She is a registered nurse employed at Massachusetts General Hospital, that city.

Mr. Leadbetter prepared at Hebron Academy, graduated from Bates College and is attending Boston University Law School.

*****
Direct Cremation of Maine
182 Waldo Avenue
Belfast, Maine 04915

In Loving Memory
Nancy Ruth Carruthers
10/13/1941 - 10/27/2009

Nancy Ruth Carruthers, 68, of Waterville died at her home on October 27, 2009, after a three and half year battle with cancer. She is survived by her sister, Jane Harvey, brother, Phillip Carruthers and five children; Charles K. Leadbetter III, of South Portland, Maine, Tracy J. L. Bardwell, of Falmouth, Maine, Lindsey R. Geitz, of Norwalk Connecticut, Danville R. Leadbetter, Estero Florida, and Mary P. Gerrie, of Portland Oregon, and seven amazing grandchildren. Nancy was a very proud mother who always said her Children were her largest accomplishment. Her children will dearly miss the "World's Most Wonderful Mother."


She was born October 13, 1941 in Schenectady, New York, the daughter of Phillip and Luella Carruthers. She grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts and graduated from Longmeadow High School. At 17, she entered the Faulkner School of nursing and became a Registered Nurse. Her career took her from the Massachusetts General Hospital, to the American Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone, Maine Medical Centers in Portland and Bangor, Thayer Hospital and ultimately to the head of the operating room at the Waterville Osteopathic Hospital. Held in high esteem by her colleagues she had been referred to by Dr. Judah Folkman of the Mass General Hospital as the "Most Phenomenal of Scrub Nurses." Dr. Folkman was the man who invented Avastin an anti-cancer drug that played a large part in her life over the last three years.


She married Dr. Marshall James Gerrie of Waterville, Maine in 1997. Although their time together was short, the impact of their relationship was profound. They both shared an incredible love for one another and the world around them. Over the course of the past four years Nancy spent much of her time with Ryan Fendler, of Camden, Maine. Nancy's relationship with Ryan and the strength of her resolve to be here for her family contributed greatly to the quality of her life after her diagnosis. Nancy spent her free time cooking, knitting, basket weaving, scrap booking, traveling the world, skydiving, and generally enjoying life. Nancy's charisma and charm rubbed off in positive ways with everyone she met. She was truly a beautiful person, and she will be sincerely missed by many.


The funeral service will be held at St Mark's Episcopal Church, 60 Eustis Pkwy, Waterville, Maine, on Saturday November 7, 2009 at 11:00 am. A reception will follow the service. If desired, flowers could be sent to St. Mark's Episcopal Church and donations may be made in memory of Nancy Carruthers to the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care at Maine General, 157 Capitol St., Augusta, Maine 04330.

Nancy married Living