Ruby Arlene Gray (Root)

Ruby, age 90, died Saturday afternoon, December 15, 2018 at her daughter's residence with her loving family at her side following a brief illness. Ruby, the daughter of Roy and Della (DeMoss) Root, was born in Lawrence, MI on March 31, 1928; was a lifetime area resident and was a 1946 graduate of Lawrence High School. She furthered her education at Borgess School of Nursing in Kalamazoo; was a Registered Nurse for Doctor's Offices in the area and retired in 1994 from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, MI. Ruby was a former member of St. Luke Episcopal Church of Kalamazoo. She enjoyed knitting and sewing quilts and especially creating sequined Christmas ornaments for family. Ruby was also an avid reader. She loved her dogs and cats and to watch every spring for the Eastern Bluebird's arrival to her nest boxes. Ruby was united in marriage to Jack Allen Gray on December 20, 1960 in Kalamazoo and he preceded her in death on June 25, 2015. Surviving is her daughter, Jackie (Bob) Kirshman of Augusta; her son Roy (Barb) Smith of Delton, MI; three step daughters, Carol Gray and Marcia Gray-Ford, both of Portage, MI and Susan (Paul) Apadoca of Albuquerque, NM; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and her sister, Reba (Bill) Pearson of Kalamazoo as well as several nieces and nephews. Ruby was also preceded in death by her parents; a son, Jeffrey Allen Gray on July 4, 2009; a sister, Ruth Theirjung and two brothers, Roger and Ronald Root. The Funeral Liturgy to celebrate Ruby's life will be held on Thursday, December 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89), with Father Francis A. Marotti, Pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church, Augusta, Celebrant. Ruby's family will greet friends on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland, MI. Personal messages and/or favorite memories of Ruby may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com