Ruth Ann Cervantes, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on May 21, 2026, at the age of 66.

Ruth was born on December 6, 1959, in Inglewood, California, to William Bennett Watts and Carmelita DeIcaza. She grew up in California and met the love of her life, Rudy Cervantes, after he drove her to church on a Sunday morning. They were married on March 28, 1981, in a beautiful glass church in California. In 1985, they moved to Utah, where they built a wonderful life together and raised their family.

Ruth's first job in Utah was at Baskin-Robbins, where she collected many fun stories she loved to share. She later spent most of her career with Smith's Food & Drug as an Assistant Manager. Her remarkable people skills, kindness, and ability to connect with others made her successful throughout her career. She was often called upon to help improve stores, support employees, and bring positive change wherever she worked.

Ruth will be remembered most for her thoughtfulness and generosity. She never forgot a birthday, holiday, or special occasion. Friends, family, neighbors, and even her mail carrier could count on receiving a carefully chosen card from Ruth. She loved finding the perfect card, gift, gift card, or little surprise to brighten someone's day. She had a gift for making people feel remembered, loved, and important.

She also loved flowers and spent every summer filling her yard with beautiful potted arrangements that she carefully tended all season long. She happily shared her talent by helping both of her daughters-in-law create beautiful flower displays at their own homes. Ruth loved music and always had it playing loudly throughout the house. She adored her beloved cat, KiKi, and was always eager to care for her sons' dogs whenever they needed her.

Family was the center of Ruth's world. She was an amazing wife to Rudy, often affectionately calling him "Ru-day" in her special way. She loved taking her boys on adventures when they were young, from trips to the water park to outings at TGI Fridays. She welcomed both of her daughters-in-law, Chantelle and Lexie, as family from the very beginning. Whether helping plan weddings, shopping together, offering advice, or simply being there when needed, Ruth was never a typical mother-in-law, she was a bonus mom and cherished friend.

Her greatest joy in recent years was becoming Grandma to Sloan Carmen Cervantes and Saylor Rae Cervantes. She adored her granddaughters and treasured every moment she spent with them. Whether helping with the newborn babies, watching the girls, caring for the dogs, cleaning the house, or simply showing up when her family needed her, Ruth gave her love freely and selflessly. Though her time with her granddaughters was far too short, her family is forever grateful for the memories they were able to create together.

Ruth is survived by her sons, George Jesse Cervantes and his wife Chantelle Cervantes, and Jesse Rudy Cervantes and his wife Lexie Cervantes; her granddaughters, Sloan Carmen Cervantes and Saylor Rae Cervantes; and her sisters, Katherine Parks, Jacqueline Gillian, Leslie Carol, and Florence Zamperini. She was also deeply loved by the extended Atkinson and Romero families, where she was considered a second mother, aunt, and trusted friend to many whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy Cervantes.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Southern Utah Mortuary in Milford, Utah. An open house will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by funeral services from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Milford Cemetery from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. A luncheon for family and friends will follow the graveside service.

Ruth's kindness, thoughtfulness, and unwavering love for her family will be deeply missed and forever remembered.