Ruby Hunt

95, a DeSoto resident for many years. Her funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at Hampton Road Baptist Church, 400 N. Hampton Road, DeSoto, TX 75115 972.223.5070 Visitation will be from 12:30 until service time. Surviving Family: Madonna Barnes (daughter) Jerry Hunt (son) Stefanie Napolitan (Grand Daughter) and husband, David Napolitan Sarah and Daniel Napolitan (Great Grand Children) Tim Barnes (Grand Son) Several hundred nephews, nieces, etc. Years 1916 – 1938: Ruby was born in southern Illinois on September 8, 1916 to Eda and Tom Taylor. Her mother bore 14 children of which Ruby was the 8th child and 10 of the children lived into adulthood. Her parents owned a farm and they grew their own food and livestock. In addition to going to school, all of the children were expected to work on the farm. Ruby was 13 years old when the Great Depression began and she told stories to her children about how the farming community and the local churches worked together to be sure that all in the community had food on their tables and clothing on their backs. Although times were hard, she told us how much fun she and her siblings had together, as well as the joy and closeness to each other that that her family experienced during those times. Their home actually burned to the ground in 1925 and they rebuilt it. Those challenging years formed the person that Ruby became, which was an independent person of strong character, a hard worker with a loving and caring nature and a devout Christian. Years 1938 -1959: After graduation from high school, Ruby married Otha Hunt in 1938 and following the birth of their daughter, Madonna, in 1940, they moved to Evansville, Indiana in 1942. During World War II, Ruby worked in a defense plant while her husband worked in a chicken hatchery as he was unable to serve in the armed forces due to a physical deferment. After the war, she went into the restaurant business, which remained her preferred career until she retired at the age of 62. Her son, Jerry, was born in 1950 and she was a devoted mother to both her children. At great sacrifice, she made sure that her children received a good education and helped her daughter get the training she needed to fmd her dream job in the airline business. Years 1959 -1965: Ruby divorced her husband in 1960 and moved to Kansas City with her son, Jerry, to be in the same city as her daughter. Jerry was burned severely in an accident when he was 11 years old and almost died. Ruby stayed at his hospital bedside until he was out of danger. In 1960, Madonna married and moved with her husband, Ralph, to Dallas. In 1963, her first grandchild, Stefanie, was born and in 1965, Ruby and her son moved to Dallas. Years 1968 -1996:Following the birth of her grandson, Tim, in 1971, Ruby moved to Desoto with her daughter and her family to help care for her grandchildren. In 1968, her son, Jerry, joined the army and he was shipped to Viet Nam in 1969. Ruby wrote to him weekly and agonized over his safety until he returned to the United States in1970. During these years, Ruby joined Hampton Road Baptist and it became her spiritual home until her passing. She had close ties with her Hampton Road Sunday School class and they participated in various functions at the church, as well as socially. They also loved to exercise by walking together and they went to water aerobics classes in Waxahachie twice weekly. Her closest friend was Ethyl Hunt, who had the same birth date, same last name, and was the same age as Ruby. We called them the twins. Ruby was a fabulous cook and in the "90's, she began cooking for the Lions Club lunches. They loved her cooking so much that they made her an honorary member and thereafter called her "Lion Ruby". During this time, there was a particular friend from church that had cancer and Ruby went to her house daily to help the family with lady's care until she passed away. She also lost another close friend, Hazel Cole. Her most happy event was in 1995 when she was able to participate in her grand daughter, Stefanie's wedding. Years 1996 – 2011: Ruby's daughter moved to Carrollton in 1996 so that she could be closer to her job with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Not wanting to be so far from her mother, Madonna asked Ruby if she would like to move to Carrollton with her and Ruby agreed. To Ruby's delight, her first great grand child, Sarah, was born in 1998 and Sarah's brother, Daniel, was born in 2001. These were happy years for Ruby as all of her family lived nearby and got together often. She kept in touch in her friends in Desoto and continued attending church at Prestonwood Baptist Church. She read her bible daily until she was physically unable to do so. Ruby had to have angioplasty surgery in 1996 and again in 1997, but she stayed in relatively good health until 2007. She was still active in doing the things she loved to do such as gardening, cleaning house, cooking for family and friends and writing to her favorite nieces and nephews. As Ruby's health began to decline in 2007, Madonna retired from her job that year to care of her. In 2005, Ruby lost her last living sibling, her sister, Ruth. In 2010, Ruby was diagnosed as having Alzheimer disease and the family's long goodbye to their precious Ruby began. January 5 - August 18,2012: Ruby was hospitalized with pneumonia on January 5th and she required care at various hospitals and nursing homes until she peacefully passed away in Plano at the Prestonwood Rehab Center at 4:40 a.m. on August 18th. Ruby's Attributes • She had a wonderful sense of humor and she loved to laugh • A loving heart and a smile for everyone , Loyalty to her family and friends • A true Christian in how she treated others • Generous to a fault • A great example to all in her family. Ruby's favorite bible verse: The 23rd Psalm. We would like this verse in the funeral program. Burt Weems will sing during the service and he will bring his accompanist with him. Songs that we would like to include are: Amazing Grace How Great Thou Art His Eyes on a Sparrow Comments Although we grieve the loss of our dear Ruby we are joyous to know that she is free from pain and suffering and that she has gone to join our Holy Father, his son, Jesus Christ and all her family and friends that are in heaven and there to welcome her. Memorials are encouraged to Alzheimers Research, in Ruby's memory. A cure for this terrible disease is needed desperately. Cure Alzeimers Fund,34 Washington Street #200,Wesley Hills, MA 02481 donate@curealz.org