STAIRS, BETTY RUTH - 22 MARCH 1925 - 20 MARCH 2004 - The death of Betty Ruth Stairs occurred suddenly but peacefully at her family home in Fredericton, NB, on Saturday, March 20, after a life-time of giving joyfully to others and triumphing over adversity and medical challenges. Betty Ruth is survived by her husband, the Rev. Conard Stairs; her son Gary and his spouse, Susanne Alexander, Fredericton, NB; her son Glenn and his spouse, Stephanie Simpson, Napanee, ON; sisters Margaret Payne, Mooers, NY, and Belle Marie (Dr. Robert) Woodworth, Nampa, ID; brothers Robert (Beverly) Christensen, West Chazy, NY, Tom (Nancy) Christensen, McLean, VA, and Lyle (Kay) Christensen, Powhatan, VA; a brother-in-law Edison Stairs, Woodstock, NB; three grandchildren, who she cherished deeply, Isaac Prah and Nia Simpson-Stairs, Napanee, ON, and Aaron Alexander-Stairs, Fredericton, NB; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, the Rev. Alfred and Ethel Christensen, of Altona, NY; a brother-in-law, Lindon Payne of Mooers, NY; and a sister-in-law, Lois Stairs of Woodstock, NB. Born in Upland, Indiana, Betty Ruth was raised in upstate NY. She earned her B.Ed. (Music) at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA, where she met the man of her dreams, packed up her paint brushes, piano books, and trombone, and followed him to the windswept shores of Nova Scotia. She became a dedicated parent and assisted "CE" with church ministries in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, and Ontario, and a college presidency. During the summer months, she led many play-filled vacations with CE and the boys at the cottage at Beulah Camp. Following their move to Fredericton, BR, as she was known, became a member and organist at Corbett Avenue Wesleyan Church and loved to sing and schmooze with the Fredericton Choral Society. Prior to her retirement, she was a fashion consultant at Calps Ltd. and compassionately assisted CE with sales at Heritage Memorials. She also partnered with CE in several businesses, including three Christian bookstores and his two devotional publishing ventures. Her last hours were spent caring for CE at his hospital bedside. Visitation will be held at Bishop's Funeral Home, 540 Woodstock Road, Fredericton, NB, on Monday, 22 March, from 7-9 pm and on Tuesday, 23 March, from 2-4 pm and from 7-9 pm. The funeral will be held at Corbett Avenue Wesleyan Church, Barkers Point, at 2:00 pm, on Wednesday, March 24. Rev. Melrose Norton and Rev. Peter Thomas will officiate. Interment will take place at the Otis Cemetery in Nackawic at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Canadian Arthritis Society or the Canadian Heart Foundation. BR's family extends a special thanks to her caring physician, Dr. Gordon Plummer, Mom's personal pit crew at Canadian Tire Northside, her many telephone buddies, and the emergency personnel who responded so kindly in our distress, especially Sgt. Brian Ford. www.bishopsfuneralhome.com