1925
Ruby
2013
Ruby McClurken
November 8, 1925 — July 27, 2013
Ruby M. McClurken, 87, died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 27, 2013.
Ruby was born in Kingdom Township on Nov. 8, 1925 to Joseph and Robbie York Greer. She married Archie Pretzsch on August 16, 1943 and the couple settled in Carmi after Archie’s service in the Army. Ruby and Archie celebrated the birth of two children, Michael Joe and Judith Ann, before Archie died in 1952.
Ruby married Dallas L. McClurken on April 2, 1955. The marriage gave Michael and Judy two new sisters, Kathy Jo and Karen June, from Dallas’s marriage to the late Bobbie Jean (Woolsey) McClurken. The couple welcomed a daughter, Denise Rae, the next year. Ruby and Dallas had the blessing of 50 years of marriage before Dallas died in 2005.
Ruby was a vivacious redhead with a twinkle in her eye. She managed her household with creative flair, sewing clothes for her daughters that were the envy of their peers, and perfecting recipes like garlic steak and pumpkin rolls that her children still begged for. She was always ready to open her home to a niece, nephew or grandchild, and taught her huge blended family that love “isn’t based on blood, it’s based on the care of each other.” She loved to laugh and conspire with practical jokes.
Ruby had a deep, thoughtful faith that she never took for granted. She loved to study scriptures with her Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. She looked forward to being reunited with those who passed on before her: her parents, her brothers and sisters, two husbands, her sisters-in-law, two sons-in-law, and one granddaughter.
She left behind to delight in her memory her son Michael Joe (Elaine) Pretzsch; and daughters, Judy (Kenneth) Pretzsch Graves, Kathy (Scott) McClurken Hanson, Karen McClurken Kelley and Denise McClurken Alexander; sixteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren, with two on-the way; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, at Stendeback Family Funeral Home, located at 200 S. Walnut, Carmi, IL. A celebration of Ruby’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 1, at First Baptist Church, 301 Oak Street, Carmi, IL. Burial will follow at Kingdom Township Cemetery.
Ruby was born in Kingdom Township on Nov. 8, 1925 to Joseph and Robbie York Greer. She married Archie Pretzsch on August 16, 1943 and the couple settled in Carmi after Archie’s service in the Army. Ruby and Archie celebrated the birth of two children, Michael Joe and Judith Ann, before Archie died in 1952.
Ruby married Dallas L. McClurken on April 2, 1955. The marriage gave Michael and Judy two new sisters, Kathy Jo and Karen June, from Dallas’s marriage to the late Bobbie Jean (Woolsey) McClurken. The couple welcomed a daughter, Denise Rae, the next year. Ruby and Dallas had the blessing of 50 years of marriage before Dallas died in 2005.
Ruby was a vivacious redhead with a twinkle in her eye. She managed her household with creative flair, sewing clothes for her daughters that were the envy of their peers, and perfecting recipes like garlic steak and pumpkin rolls that her children still begged for. She was always ready to open her home to a niece, nephew or grandchild, and taught her huge blended family that love “isn’t based on blood, it’s based on the care of each other.” She loved to laugh and conspire with practical jokes.
Ruby had a deep, thoughtful faith that she never took for granted. She loved to study scriptures with her Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. She looked forward to being reunited with those who passed on before her: her parents, her brothers and sisters, two husbands, her sisters-in-law, two sons-in-law, and one granddaughter.
She left behind to delight in her memory her son Michael Joe (Elaine) Pretzsch; and daughters, Judy (Kenneth) Pretzsch Graves, Kathy (Scott) McClurken Hanson, Karen McClurken Kelley and Denise McClurken Alexander; sixteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren, with two on-the way; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, at Stendeback Family Funeral Home, located at 200 S. Walnut, Carmi, IL. A celebration of Ruby’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 1, at First Baptist Church, 301 Oak Street, Carmi, IL. Burial will follow at Kingdom Township Cemetery.
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