Ruby Mae Graves

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Ruby Mae Graves, 81, beloved sister and aunt, went to be with her Lord on Monday, March 30, 2009, following complications from Alzheimer's disease, of which she suffered for nine years.

Service: 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Mount Olivet Chapel, with the family receiving friends afterward. Dr. Jack Terry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Tommy Teague and the Rev. George Dixon, North Richland Hills Baptist Church, will officiate. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Meals on Wheels in Midland, Texas; Children's Building Fund of North Richland Hills Baptist Church, 4001 Vance Road, North Richland Hills, Texas 76180; Children's Building Fund of First United Methodist of Midland, Texas; Alzheimer's Association, 101 Summit Ave., Suite 300, Fort Worth, Texas; or a charity of choice.

A native of Fort Worth, Ruby Mae was born Dec. 24, 1927, to Marshall and Mary Lois Petty Graves. She was a 1944 graduate of Polytechnic High School and began her long career with Gulf Oil Corp. the very day after graduating from Polytechnic High.

During the next 38 1/2 years with Gulf Oil/Chevron, Ruby would hold numerous positions from "messenger," to secretary, to senior clerk, to supervisor of Central Records within the organization where she would travel from Fort Worth to Wichita Falls, and finally end up in "God's country," Midland. She took her responsibilities very seriously, but might often be the first to laugh at herself as well: This tall, willowy, impeccably dressed, coiffed "lady," excellent seamstress, designing/exhibiting beautiful and admired fashions, would one day be laughing around the coffee pot that she had worn one black and one brown shoe. After retiring in 1980, just weeks after retirement, she would again be employed and hold the title of executive secretary for an independent oil company and serve it faithfully for the next seven years, after which she would once again retire. However, this time she chose to finally relax and spend time with friends and family, but began volunteering. After moving to Fort Worth she became a member of North Richland Hills Baptist Church and the Go Forth SS Club.

Ruby's happiest time was spent serving others through her church, First United Methodist Church of Midland, the local hospital as a "Pink Lady," assisting customers at a well-known exclusive Midland dress shop, and then on those very special Monday mornings, delivering Meals on Wheels as well as snacks and treats. She would serve faithfully for the next 10 years where she and fellow worker, Betty Reimers, delivered not only meals, but also laughter and cheer to each of the 17 homes. Her other services ranged from stuffing envelopes for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, to sorting clothes and other items for the annual Community and Senior Services garage sale. "People miss things if they don't help others who just need a little help," she would say. "That's part of my life; I guess that is why I was put on this earth."

Ruby Mae was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Carl T. Graves and wife, Alleene; sister, Helen Graves Martin and husband, Frank; brother-in-law, C.W. Massey Jr.; and dear friend, Jack Shelton.

Our special thanks for the years of care: Dr. Paul Kim of Senior Health Clinic, North Richland Hills, and Dr. Gregory W. Bartha of Midland, and the loving caregivers at Barbee House, ACT Senior Care, and Vitas Hospice Health Care of Hurst.

Survivors: Beloved sister and caregiver, Catherine Graves Massey of North Richland Hills; nieces, Deberah Massey Averitt and husband, Larry, of Richland Hills and June Graves Davis and husband, Donald, of Marietta, Ga., and their extended family of North Carolina and Georgia; great-niece, Paula Kay McDaniel and husband, Bobby, of Bedford; great-nephew, Paul Averitt and wife, Wendy, of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; great-great-nieces, Reagan McDaniel, Harper Averitt, London Averitt, Rachel McDaniel and Megan McDaniel; and her kitty, Babe.

Mount Olivet Funeral Home

2301 N. Sylvania Ave., 817-831-051