Chris was born Ruth Christine Nickell on May 14, 1936, the fourth daughter of Ted (Teddy Roosevelt) and Verona (Brooks) Nickell, in Brinkmanship, OK. She passed away at home in Bakersfield, CA in the early morning hours of January 28, 2021, just six hours after her beloved sister, Ruby Mooney. Chris was also preceded in death by her parents, siblings, (Louise, Lola, Lily Fern, and Teddy Brent), husband of 48 years, TC, and son, Bobby. She is survived by Carol, Donna (Robert), Rick (Anne), Pam (Ryan), and Brian (Joy); grandchildren Joey, Shannon, Drennan, Jake, Casey, Molly, Morgan, Zackery, Taylor, and her youngest grandson and beloved caregiver, John; 18 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Chris snd her family migrated to Lemoore, California in the 1940s where she attended one year of high school. One early morning in August of 1951, Chris left a note for her mother in a sack of flour and slipped out the door to marry Bob Bettencourt at the age of 15. In the late 1950s she moved to Delano and then to McFarland upon her marriage to TC Ash in 1965. Chris worked as a waitress for many years as well as owning and managing the Sno-White Drive-In in McFarland and the Tiger Restaurant in Arkansas. Chris loved shrimp tacos, shrimp cocktail, shrimp linguini, Kung pao shrimp, lemon cookies, lemon drops, lemon pie, lemon cake, and answering the age-old query, "Are you a turtle?" Her childhood nickname was, "Badger" and her life's motto was, "If you're gonna be a bear, be a Grizzly!" Chris was a faithful member of Ebenezer Reformed Church since 2014.