Ruby Nell Killough

Ruby Nell Poteet Killough, 93, of Pampa, passed away at her home on August 28, 2023.

 

Services will be at 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Rev. Norman Rushing, pastor of Central Baptist Church and Pastor Jeremy Buck, pastor of Redeemer Pampa Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

 

Ruby was born December 30, 1929 to James Andrew and Nellie Pearl Poteet near Lutie in Collingsworth County. The youngest of three children, Ruby attended schools in Dozier and Samnorwood, and graduated from Wellington High School. She married Floyd Rudolph Killough in Wellington on August 4, 1947. Ruby and her sister, Billie, married brothers.

 

Although she lived in Pampa for over 73 years, Ruby always considered Wellington and Collingsworth County home. She said she learned her work ethic there, pulling bolls, hoeing cotton, and making do with very little during the depression.

 

Shortly after moving to Pampa, Ruby met “Uncle Bill” Coronis, the founder of the Coney Island Café. Even though Bill objected to her employment because she was not yet 21 and couldn’t serve beer, his nephews, Johnny and Ted Gikas hired Ruby and she worked at the Coney for over twenty years.

 

When her husband died, Ruby cleaned houses to support a second generation of children that she was raising. Later, she and her good friend, Martha Hadley operated a concession wagon for Lyndon Lloyd Auctioneers.

 

Ruby loved to quilt, crochet, macrame, and knit. She was a talented seamstress who could make anything on the sewing machine if she had a pattern, material, and thread.

 

Ruby was a member of the Bethel Assembly of God Church in Pampa until it closed. She then attended the Pampa Chapel of the Apostolic Faith, and when it closed, she visited the Central Baptist Church, when her health allowed.

 

Ruby is survived by her son, Floyd “Drew” Killough and wife Elena; former daughter-in-law, Glenda Killough; and six grandchildren, Chuck Mercer, Tina Killough Busch (Dan), Crystal Hearon (George), Tammy Rogers, Maria Rassokhina, and Dmitri Killough.

 

Ruby delighted in her seven great-grandchildren, Rachel Busch, Desray and Marcus Jernigan, April Williams, Brittney, Mercedes, and Dakota Nolte.

 

Ruby’s great-great grandson, Sykler Jernigan, was the light of her life, and she was blessed with great-great grandchildren, Bentley Nolte, Shane Williams, Jaxon Williams, Abigail Williams, and Kimber Tapp.

 

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, James and Nellie Poteet; her husband, Floyd Rudolph Killough; daughter, Gloria Killough Carswell; and grandson, Aaron Killough.

 

“I have passed on toward the goal to win the prize that God has promised.”