This was posted by Smokey Edds about his mother, Ruth Edds, who was part of the OCSOA unit for many years. OCSOA wishes her peace in her final resting place. Funeral services as of this message have not yet been determined, but will be passed along as soon as any information is received.

Her name was Ruth.

But everyone called her Mom. I’m sorry. MOM….

If you were involved in softball, in any form, in Southern California from the late 70’s through the 90’S, you knew of MOM. She didn’t care about letters on hats or shirts. She didn’t care about politics. All she cared about was girls playing softball and finding umpires to allow those games to happen. She’ll never be in a hall of fame with a plaque on a wall because there would be too many walls with too many plaques.

She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmothers, a scorekeeper, a manager, a coach, an umpire, a teacher, a mentor, a friend, a confidant, a caregiver, an assignor, an umpire in chief, a tournament director and quite possibly the most altruistic person I’ve ever met. But, of course I’m biased.

If anyone needed advice or recommendations, she was first in line. If anyone needed someone to talk to, her phone was 24/7. If anyone needed games to pay for rent or food, she found them for them. If anyone needed a place to spend the night, our couch was always available. If anyone needed a loan, whether it ever got paid back or not, MOM was there for them.

So many of us learned so much about softball and life from MOM and her lessons each day. You were her family and she loved you all.

I look over the rosters of national championships at all levels over the years and such a high percentage of us were touched by MOM.

MOM has finally given in to her ailments and dementia. She is finally at peace. Please celebrate what she has done for each and every one of you, as I am myself.

Last story: MOM never wanted people to know that I was her son. She didn’t want her umpires to be upset that I was getting games that they might want. That’s where the name “Smokey” came from. I was an unknown kid. After years and years, people began to figure out that I was MOM’s son. Years later, after my career advanced, someone said that Ruth was Smokey’s mom….NO…

Smokey will ALWAYS BE MOM’S SON. She has done more for our sport than I will every be able to do…

Tonight, hug your family and tell them you love them. You never know when you’ll never have that chance again.

Smokey