Ruby Fay Lockhart, daughter of John Washington and Frances Jane Taylor Silvey, was born Feb. 9, 1921, south of the Ragsdale community near Seymour. She departed this life Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, in her home, in Seymour, at the age of 83 years.
On July 18, 1941, she was united in marriage to Walter Roy Lockhart, and to this union three sons and one daughter was born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Billy Gene Lockhart; three brothers, Leonard, Aaron, and Arnold “Buck” Silvey; and a sister, Cleo Self.
Ruby is survived by her husband of 63 years, Walter, of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Kathy Lockhart, of Raymondville, Mo., and Howard and Pamela Lockhart, of West Plains; a daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Edsel Grove, of Cortland, Neb; a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Lockhart, of Fordland; nine grandchildren, Donette Stump, and her husband, Kevin, Robert Lockhart, and his wife Rachel, Bruce Lockhart, and his wife Lane, Boyd Lockhart, Jeff Grove, Shelley Ritter, and her husband Todd, Bryan Grove, and his wife Isabel, Heather Grove and Vanessa Lockhart; 14 great-grandchildren, Justin and Katelyn Stump, Destany, Molly and Brittany Grove, Nick, Ashley, Seth, and Paige Ritter, Amber and McKenna, Samantha, Ryliegh, and Cody Grove; two sisters, Betty Farris, of Leadville, Colo., and Leona Comer, of Ava; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in the Seymour area, and graduated from Seymour High School in the Class of 1940. After she and Walter were married, they made their home mostly in the Seymour community, except for a few years when they lived in St. Louis and California. In addition to being a devoted homemaker and loving mother. Ruby also worked as a teller for the Seymour Bank for many years before retiring.
Ruby made her profession of faith in Christ and was baptized early in her life at the Ragsdale (Harmony) Freewill Baptist Church.
She was a member of the Happy Homemakers Club for several years. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, using an old treadle sewing machine, doing embroidery, cooking and playing cards. She enjoyed being outdoors and liked working in her lawn and garden. Her family was very important to her and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren.
Ruby was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends.
Services will be Friday, Jan. 7, 2 p.m., in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Seymour, with Dr. John Comer officiating. Burial will be in Seymour Masonic Cemetery. Visitation will be 7-8 p.m., Thursday, in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 366, Seymour, MO 65746.
