Obituary of Miriam Eloise Russell

Miriam Russell Miriam Eloise (Pirie) Russell, who rode a horse at the Project R.I.D.E. Arena at age 97 and again at 98, died Feb. 6, 2014. She was a resident at Eskaton in Greenhaven and was chosen to participate in the assisted living facility's Thrill of a Lifetime program which for her was once again riding a horse after many, many years. The Elk Grove Citizen featured her in a story in May 2012, shortly after her first ride. Miriam Pirie was born April 18, 1915 in Ojai to Alex and Edna Pirie and the family moved to Clements in the early 1920s where they farmed and Miriam learned to ride horses. In later years she was part of the founding group of the Clements Buckaroos. She graduated from Lodi High School in 1935 and then attended nursing school in San Leandro after which she went to work in the Alameda County Hospital. In 1943 she enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Cushing General Hospital, an Army hospital in Massachusetts, receiving her discharge in January 1946. Mrs. Russell took care of her parents in their later years, and then worked on a chicken ranch and cleaned houses in Clements until the mid 1970s when she moved to Galt. Later she took up residence at Eskaton. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Stacy. Mrs. Russell is survived by her son Luther and wife Jean of Sacramento; daughter Eloise Cox of Galt; grandchildren Amanda, Sherman and Joel; and six great-grandchildren. She was the sister of Bill, Alex Jr. and Stuart Pirie and sister-in-law of Virginia Pirie; and also leaves behind several nieces and nephews. Miriam Russell was baptized into the Jehovah's Witnesses and services will take place Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. at Elk Grove's Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall, 8780 Grant Line Road. Remembrances may be made to Project R.I.D.E., P.O. Box 159, Elk Grove, CA 95759. Arrangements are by Rocha's All Faiths Cremation & Burial, Lodi.