Ruby Lee Strickland

1925 - 2005

Ruby Lee Strickland, 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, in Springtown.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday at White's Funeral Home Chapel. Burial: Springtown Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at White's Funeral Home.

Ruby Lee was born May 10, 1925, in Ada, Okla., to Lige and Ruby McCarty Neely. She was a longtime Springtown resident. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of over 50 years, Joe Strickland, and son-in-law, Jerry Ellis.

Ruby Lee spent 24 years working for Continental Telephone Company. She was hand-picked by the board members to assist in starting First Bank and Trust in Springtown. Ruby Lee quickly advanced to a bank officer position. She enjoyed helping Springtown residents and particularly was an advocate to many elderly people of Springtown with their banking needs. She worked on the square for over 50 years and retired in 1998. Ruby loved Springtown and served the people through many activities, including the City Business Planning and Zoning Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, seminars to SHS in finance, and Porcupine Booster Clubs. She was the first woman elected to the Springtown City Council and was later named one of the First Women of Springtown by a local sorority. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, an avid gardener, great cook, charter member of the Springtown Senior Center and a member of the Finance Committee. Ruby was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and will be missed by her family and loving friends.

Survivors: Daughter, Connie Ellis and husband, Gary Bunt; son, Don Strickland and wife, Roxana; grandchildren, Mike and Toni Ellis, Donna Ellis, Andrea Strickland, Stryker Strickland, Tito Medina, Marco Stone, Joe D. Strickland; great-grandchildren, Linda and Margaret Devore, Taylor Strickland, Tristan Guidry; and many friends.