Ruby D. Mitchell Rush, 83, of Mountain Grove, passed away Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014.
She was born Dec. 27, 1930, in Clayton, N.M., daughter of David N. and Lillie Ringgold Mitchell. She and David E. Vance were married in 1945 near Bridgman, Mich. He passed away in 1968. She and James. F. Rush were married in 1978.
She grew up outside of Houston during the Great Depression and graduated from Houston High School.
She and her first husband, Dave, lived many years in Wichita, Kan. After divorcing her second husband, Jim, she moved to Mountain Grove to be closer to family.
She had many different jobs during her life, including the Green Thumb program, where she worked many years in the Mountain Grove School district until she retired.
She had a passion for flowers and rocks. She loved dolls, the color pink and jewelry that sparkled.
She watched Steve Harvey, Judge Judy, Wheel of Fortune, NASCAR, John Wayne movies and anything on the History channel. She loved playing Farkle or Wahoo with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Dave and Jim; and eight siblings.
Survivors include a sister, Emma Montgomery of Cabool; two daughters, Pamela “Daisy” Vance of Kansas City and Patty Squirrell of Mountain Grove; a son, Michael Vance of Wichita, Kan.; a special friend, Ellie Swofford; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
A celebration of life is 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at First Free Will Baptist Church in Mountain Grove. Cremation was under the direction of Walnut Lawn Funeral Home of Springfield.
