Ruby Mackie's Obituary
Ruby Jean (Hightower) Mackie, 79, of Grovespring, Mo., departed this life on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield.
Ruby was born on March 16, 1931, in the Loring community near Grovespring. She attended the Luallin Grade School and graduated from Hartville High School in 1949.
Ruby’s life was primarily defined by her faith and her family. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and joined Elk Creek Baptist Church where she served as a deacon’s wife and a faithful member for 70 years.
Ruby and Irvin Clyde Mackie were united in marriage on January 4, 1952, and to this union two children were born. Ruby’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her husband and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Ruby worked at various times at Commerce Bank, Consumers Supermarket, and MFA, and she retired in 1994 after 20 years at the Town & Country Supermarket in Hartville.
Ruby possessed a green thumb with her flowers and garden and enjoyed canning pickles and cooking for her family. She was a member of the Grovespring TOPS chapter and was once awarded the title of TOPS Queen. Ruby loved shopping, played the piano, and took great pleasure in helping manage the family farm and raising Missouri Fox Trotters. Irvin and Ruby spent immeasurable time together at horse shows throughout their marriage.
Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Julia Hightower. She is survived by her husband of 58 ½ years, Irvin, of the home; a daughter, Janice Erisman and husband Roger of Greenfield, Mo.; a son, Mark and wife Caryn of Springfield, Mo.; four grandchildren, Karrie Badami and husband Tom, Zackarie Mackie and girl friend Jennifer Songer, and Joshua Erisman and wife Brittany, all of Kansas City, Mo., and Nathan Erisman and wife Jennifer of Nixa, Mo.; three great-grandchildren, Karli and Blake Badami of Kansas City, MO, and a great-granddaughter expected in September; two sisters, Wilma Faye Neasby and husband Ralph of Lebanon, Mo., and Patty Crain and husband Charles of Springfield, Mo.; one brother, Charles Hightower and wife Dianne of Lebanon, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Marie Massey of Grovespring, Mo., and Olive Mace of Niangua, Mo.; two brothers-in-law, Loren Mackie and wife Sue of Grovespring, Mo., and Roy Mackie and wife Lovena of Republic, Mo.; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A visitation will be held on Friday, July 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Hartville, Mo. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 24, at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Shaddy Cemetery near Grovespring. Memorial donations may be made to Shaddy Cemetery or the Elk Creek Baptist Church, in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 236, Hartville, Missouri 65667.
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