Ruby Lea York

Ruby Lea (Welch) York passed away the morning of Thursday, March 3, 2011 in the Life Care Center of Waynesville at the age of 97 years, Ruby was born on June 14, 1913 to John E. Welch and Birdie L. (Griffin) Welch in Pulaski County, Missouri. Ruby was the second oldest child of nine children. As a young girl, Ruby attended church in Cookville, Missouri traveling to church by buckboard wagon with Clarence and Minda Quesenberry and others. Ruby accepted Christ as her Savior as a young woman. Ruby’s life was full of adventure. She enjoyed being outdoor’s telling stories of selling dishes out of saddlebags and killing dinner with her twenty two on the way home. As a young woman Ruby worked at the Pippin Place as well as several local restaurants. Ruby enjoyed sharing stories of her life with her grandkids and great-grandkids about trapping and hunting, gardening and crocheting while watching baby chicks in the middle of the brooder house. Ruby was united in marriage to Fred Adrian York on October 14, 1933 in Pulaski County, Missouri and to this union two children were born: Martha L. (York) Burgess and Marjorie “Dee” (York) Lane. Ruby and Fred were caretakers of the “County Farm” in the early 1940’s. Ruby and Fred touched many lives not only through their time at the County Farm but also through their Feed and Grocery Store. During Ruby and Fred’s time at the County Farm, they attended church in the Mt. Gibson Schoolhouse where Ruby taught Sunday School. The little white table she used is still in use today. As the need arose, Ruby and Fred, along with several others organized and began to build Mt. Gibson Missionary Baptist church which is now Mt. Gibson Baptist Church. When Ruby and Fred left the County Farm, they took several of the residents with them to their current home where they ran a boarding home. This boarding home was referred to by Ruby’s grandchildren as the “Old Peoples House”, a source of several fond memories for each of them. Ruby’s focus was always on her family. She taught them how to serve God while serving others in the community. Ruby’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren’s lives have been so richly blessed by her life. Ruby leaves to mourn her passing her children: Marjorie “Dee” Land and Martha Burgess; her brother: Claude Welch (Barb) of Idaho; sister: Georgia Johnson (Bud) of Oregon; her grandchildren: Nelle Rivera, Judy Lonergan, Johnny Burgess (Linda), Debbie Thomas, Elaine Burgess (Richard Brown), Pam Seda (Steve) and Donna Cottrell; her great grandchildren: Justin Lonergan (Amber), Tammi Cottrell, Tiffany Addington (Alan), Monika Rivera, Danielle Thomas, Maggie and Nancy Swick, Kristin Lonergan, Tori Cottrell, Steven Seda, Jared Lonergan, Terra Cottrell, Cody Burgess, Javier Rivera, Aaron Seda, Katlyn Lonergan, George Cottrell, Montana Burgess, Morgan Burgess, Angelica Cottrell, and Gavin Brown; great-great grandchildren: Shaelyn Addington, Audrey Addington, Addison O’Connor, Harper Addington and Dakota Nagele; several nieces, nephews, friends and her beloved dog FiFi. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents: John and Birdie Welch; her husband: Fred York; stepmother: Effie Gan Welch; sisters: Cecil Biram, Myrtle McDonald, Josephine York, and Geneva Wilson; brothers: Chester and Earl Welch and her son-in-laws: Garry Burgess and Jim Lane. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2011 in the Mt. Gibson Baptist Church with Rev. Richard Breeden and Rev. Dr. Paul Miller officiating. Soloist Greg Johnson sang “The Old Rugged Cross” accompanied by Pianist Irene Spencer. Soloist Becky Lercher sang “Beulah Land” and “Ten Thousand Years”. The congregation sang “When We All Get to Heaven”. Serving as escorts were Cody Burgess, George Cottrell, Steven Seda, Johnny Burgess, Aaron Seda, Richard Brown, Steve Seda and Justin Lonergan. Serving as honorary escorts were Morgan and Montana Burgess, Gavin Brown, Von Dixon, Alan Addington and Jarrod Lonergan. Burial followed in the Mt. Gibson Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Gibson Cemetery Fund, Mt. Gibson Baptist Church, C.A.R.E.S. Foundation or Autism Awareness and may be left at the funeral home.

Ruby Lea York

June 14, 1913 - March 3, 2011