Ruth Ann McCann Beeghley, legal secretary

Ruth Ann McCann Beeghley, 93, of Lafayette Hill, a legal secretary, died Friday, Nov. 13, of congestive heart failure in the hospice care facility at Abington-Lansdale Hospital.

Two days earlier, she had celebrated her birthday with four generations of family and hospital staff.

Mrs. Beeghley was born in Paris, Texas, to Noble T. McCann and Ruth Hiestand McCann.

Her father was the dining services superintendent for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. As a result, Mrs. Beeghley lived in many towns along the railroad in the Midwest and Southwest.

Mrs. Beeghley graduated from a business school and soon found work as secretary to the military base commander at Los Alamos, N.M. At the time, the base was home to the secret Manhattan Project, which produced the atomic bomb.

She met Jesse W. "Jack" Beeghley Jr., an Army specialist at the base. After the war, they were married. Mrs. Beeghley supported the couple so her husband could complete his degree at the University of Virginia Law School.

The two moved to Lafayette Hill, where they raised four children. Mrs. Beeghley served as a secretary at Beeghley & Beeghley, the law practice her husband founded in Conshohocken. The firm is now run by her son David B. Beeghley.

Well-versed on many subjects, Mrs. Beeghley enjoyed writing poetry and prose. After retiring to Normandy Farms Estates in Blue Bell, she was a regular contributor to the Normandy Newsletter.

She loved shopping for antiques with her friend Ruth Smith and was a longtime member of the Questers. Mrs. Beeghley also was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. She performed with the Curtain Callers and the music ensemble of the Plymouth Valley Women's Club.

Mrs. Beeghley shared her husband's enthusiasm for card games, especially bridge and casino. When he became ill with Parkinson's disease, she cared for him. He died in February 2005.

"Ruth was generous to all who knew her, made hospitality an art, and was a wonderful example with her unconditional love and kindness," her family said.

Besides son David, she is survived by sons John L. and James M. "Jamie"; a daughter, Elizabeth E. "Betsy" McLaughlin; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A brother died earlier.

A visitation is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, in the library at Normandy Farms Estates, 9000 Twin Silo Drive, Blue Bell. A second visitation is to be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia 19118. Burial is private. Donations may be made to Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80921, or to the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill at the address above.

bcook@phillynews.com

610-313-8102