OBITUARY

As mentioned here yesterday, Patsy Sutherlin's mom has passed away. Here is her official obituary, as run in the Searcy Daily Citizen:

Ruby Byrd Sutherlin

On Sunday, July 2, 2006, nine days short of her 102nd birthday, Ruby Byrd Sutherlin passed from this life.

She is survived by her two daughters, Jane Hefley of Little Rock and Pat McRee of Orlando, Fla., and sons-in-law, Dr. Bill F. Hefley Sr. and Col. (Ret.) Marshall R. McRee; grandchildren, Laura Hefley Krupka, Dr. William F. Hefley Jr. and wife Lisa, Sarah Hefley Heffley and husband Kyle, Tracy McRee Wellington and husband Jim and Stephanie McRee Williams and husband Brandon; 13 great grandchildren and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.

Ruby was born July 11, 1904, at Steprock, Ark., the oldest child of James and Edna Byrd. She grew up on the farm with her three brothers. She milked cows, churned, canned vegetables, picked cotton and washed clothes in an iron pot over a wood fire. She began cooking the family’s breakfast biscuits at a young age, having to stand on a box to reach the kitchen table. She loved school even though she had to walk several miles to get there. As a dark-haired, lovely young woman, she went on a double date and met her future husband ... the other girl’s date! She and Leonard Sutherlin were married June 7, 1930, and moved to Searcy, where Leonard was the bookkeeper at the Bank of Searcy.

During the Depression years and later, Ruby, a skilled seamstress, added to the family income by “sewing for the public,” as she liked to say, making everything from women’s suits to full-length formal evening dresses. Later, when her two daughters were in high school and college, she worked at the Birdseye Frozen Food Plant.

After her husband’s death in June 1967, Ruby continued working and gardening. Then her life changed when her grandchildren began arriving to attend Harding College, now Harding University. They came with the instructions to do their own laundry, but Ruby would not hear of this! She had an active life again! The grandchildren spent hours at her house, studying, visiting, and bringing friends to meet ‘MeMaw.’ What fun!

In January 2004, Ruby fell, requiring hip surgery. No longer able to walk, she lived until her death at the Pleasant Living Center in Little Rock, a short distance from the Hefley Home.

Memorials may be made to Harding University, Searcy, Westside Church of Christ, Searcy, or Windsong Church of Christ, North Little Rock. Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Westside Church of Christ with interment following at Oak Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, July 10, 2006 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home.

Online guest register www.rollerfuneralhomes.com or (501) 268-3546.