Ruby Lea Nahlen

Our dear mother, Ruby Lea Nahlen, of Little Rock, AR entered eternal life March 24, 2024 on her ninety-sixth birthday. She was born March 24, 1928 in Conway, AR to Unabelle and Josiah Edward Russell. She was the last survivor of her generation on both sides of our family.

Mom married our father, Herman Amos Nahlen, June 27, 1946. Together, they lovingly parented Ronald Joseph Nahlen (Nancy), Kathryn Darlene Fooks, Martin Eugene Nahlen, Dr. Bernard Lee Nahlen, and (Marian) Jane Jarboe. She was employed as an office manager at Stasco Furniture Company for twenty-five years and Little Rock Chiropractic Clinic for thirty years. She was a proud member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church for seventy-four years where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, played the organ, sang in the choir, and counted church collections after Mass. Upon her retirement, Mom volunteered at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock and played the domino game Mexican Train every chance she had which was almost every day. Mom was proud of her memory, her age, and her children. She boasted to many that her children would take care of her and they did. Survivors include her son Dr. Bernard Nahlen of South Bend, Indiana; her daughter Jane Jarboe of Little Rock, AR; her daughter-in-law Nancy Nahlen of East End, AR; her brother-in-law John (Jr.) Johnson (Janette) of Greenbrier, AR; her special nephew, Robert (Sue) Schneblen of Sherwood, AR; her special niece Connie (Mike) Thomas of Yuma, AZ; grandsons: Paul Griffin (Phyllis) of East End, AR, Cory Griffin of Alexander, AR, Aaron Jarboe of Little Rock, AR, and Andy Jarboe of Jonesboro, AR; granddaughter Kimberly Hammock of Smithville, AR; great-grandsons: Michael Paul (Sheina) Griffin of Benton, AR, Thomas (Kaitlyn) Logan of Sherwood, AR; great-granddaughters Courtney (Shane) Fennell of Vilonia, AR, Kaitlyn (Chase) Battles of Sydney, AR, Kaylie (Jamie) Smith of Dalton, MO, and Hannah Hammock of Smithville, AR; her furry mates Bella and Emmey, and eleven great-great grandchildren. Mom missed the chance to hold her youngest great-great Makenzie Ann Logan but they connected on FaceTime and she was delighted.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-two years Herman Nahlen, sons Ronnie Nahlen and Martin Nahlen, daughter Kathy Fooks, son-in-law Richard “Dick” Jarboe, grandsons Bryan Fooks and Richard Jarboe, her parents and three siblings , and her furry mate Simon.

A celebration of her life will be held at Smith Funeral Home, North Little Rock, April 3, 2024 from 5-7 pm followed by recitation of the rosary led by her niece Mary Fran Nahlen-Many, PHD of Monroe, LA. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church April 4, 2024 at 1:00 pm with internment at Calvary Cemetery. The celebrant will be Msg. Lawrence Frederick.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Paul, Aaron, Michael, and Thomas, Jr.; and grandson son-in-laws: Thomas,Sr. and Shane. Honorary pallbearers will be John (Jr) Johnson, Dr. Paul Thessing, D.C, Dr. Richard Riley, D.C., staff of Little Rock Chiropractic Clinic, and surviving nephews Robert and Frank Schneblen, Joe Kresse and Darrell Russell. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Anne’s Catholic Church or Pulaski County Humane Society.

The family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation and Gentiva Hospice for the care they provided to our loved one the past nine months.