Commentary: Lucky People Knew Rogers' Ruthie Papini

Those who have lived in Rogers for many years are lucky, luckier than those who have moved here in the Last 10 years or so.

That's because many long-time residents knew Ruthie Papini.

Notice my use of the past tense.

Sadly, Ruthie died last week in Arizona, where she had moved to be near her daughter, Claire.

Ruthie arrived in Rogers with a young family after Daisy Manufacturing opened its plant in the 1950s. She made the town her own.

I envisioned her as a June Cleaver-type mom. Most of you remember June from "Leave it to Beaver" -- the perfectly coiffed mom in heels, an immaculate, and stylish, shirtwaist dress, maybe even pearls.

I know Ruthie would have poo-poohed that vision. Still ...

She was known for her cooking and her wonderful hospitality. Flip Putthoff and I were often the lucky recipients of her kitchen creations. She'd invite us for lunch, or maybe cookies, and a visit. We hated to leave the warmth of her Magnola House kitchen -- and we never left empty-handed.

Magnolia House is on Third Street between Poplar and Cherry streets. It is one of those wonderful historic houses you walk past if you walk downtown. Designed and built in about 1889 by prominent businessman Thad Rearick, the Papinis purchased it when they moved to town.

A fire in the 1980s nearly look Magnolia House away from Ruthie, but Rogers firefighters saved the structure and it was rebuilt, albeit with a smaller second story. Ruthie always had a warm place in her her heart for the firefighters who saved her house, and for those who followed in their footsteps.

On one of her visits home, I loaded Ruthie up and took her for a drive around Rogers. It was an experience to see the western side of the city through her eyes, eyes that recalled it in a time before I moved to the city.

She was amazed and excited by what she saw.

Still, Ruthie was a downtown girl at heart. I think I can safely say had she been able to do so, she would have been at the forefront of the effort to renovate downtown Rogers. She would have loved the restaurants, the possibility of a food truck spot, the renovation of Lake Atalanta.

Ruthie had her own show on a local radio station. One of the things she did was share her recipes. That led to a cookbook, which I treasure. You won't find gourmet dishes in "Ruthie's Recipes Short & Simple." The name says it all. Need a biscuit recipe? Ruthie's "Biscuits That Melt in Your Mouth" requires only eight ingredients -- and no trip to every store in town to find something unique.

My favorite main dish is her "Chicken Squares with Mushroom Sauce." I know using canned soups as element in a meal has fallen out of favor. Nonetheless, this recipes requires canned mushroom soup for the sauce, and it is delish.

Ruthie moved to YouTube in 2011 with "Ruthie's Cooking Corner." I was tickled to find her there Monday morning, whipping up flourless peanut butter cookies, and talking about the fact they were gluten-free. It was as if she had never left.

Ruthie live in a retirement community in Tubac, Ariz., an environment 180 degrees opposite Northwest Arkansas. She grew to love it, often telling me stories of javelinas. Talk about ugly. They look a bit like a wild hog, but are members of the peccary family, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Ruthie thought they were adorable, which will tell you how nice she was.

She admitted they smelled, but she enjoyed watching them at night as the foraged for food.

Ruthie remained active, writing a column for this month's "Tubac Villager." a monthly journal. She wrote that she had fallen, and that Claire was helping her with her column. She reminisced about her very talented son, Rano Paul, who died in 2009. He was a fabulous pianist who was known in the Kansas City area. I can't help but wonder if Ruthie foresaw her own passing as she prepared her column.

It wasn't bittersweet, however. It was very happy, and featured recipes for cheese grits, minestrone and corn chowder.

I shared this recipe once before. It is my favorite. Some of you might like to have it to remember Ruthie by, or to start new memories with.

Ruthie would like that.

Mother's Ice Box Cookies

From "Ruthie's Recipes Short and Simple"

2 cups brown sugar

2 sticks margarine or butter

2 eggs

4 cups flour

Dash salt

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon soda

1 tablespoon vanilla

Mix all together and form into four rolls. Wrap separately in foil or plastic and freeze. When ready

to use, slice and bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes.

Commentary on 10/30/2014

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