Ruby Peterson

Ruby Lavene Peterson, 94, of Carrolton Texas, passed away 16 January 2025 surrounded by her family.

 Ruby was born in 1930 in a Reading Kansas, a small prairie town on a hot windy dusty day in the middle of August of Oliver Smith and Fannie Brandt. Her childhood was full of heartbreak as her mother died when she was 4. At the time young girls were not left with their father’s, so she went to live with her grandmother, Lizzie Brooks Brandt. Grandma Lizzie died before Ruby started elementary school. It was not until her teens did, she find herself where she finally would consider home with her Aunt and Uncle, Grace and Glen Peterson. Their son Dick was the brother she never had. In 1947 she graduated from Diamond Valley Rural High School , in Burdick Kansas. Burdick Kansas is where she called home. 

At 17, with no financial options, Ruby got a teaching job in a one room country schoolhouse. She got her teaching degree attending school during the summer. With her teaching certificate she started teaching in Junction City, Kansas. It was during this time she met a handsome young man, Paul Jerome Peterson while he was going to school at Kansas State University. Soon after graduation Paul Peterson and Ruby Smith married on May 28,1953 in the Burdick Lutheran Church where Paul’s father, Rev. Arthur Peterson officiated. Together, when Paul returned from Germany serving in the US Army in 1954, Ruby and Paul started their life together.  

Ruby lived for over 9 decades, she was the matriarch of her family, made friends wherever she went young and old and was known to be the life of the party! She called you by name, wanted to know details of your life and often before you knew you it, you were telling details you may have not shared in a long time. She made friends easily and she was your friend. Ruby also showed us how brave and fierce she was during the past last 2 years. When, in the blink of an eye at 92, she found herself with a spinal cord injury, paralyzed from the neck down, she found the beauty in life. Not once did she express words of self-pity, regret, anger or despair. She was grateful. GRATEFUL! 

Ruby is survived by her loving son Doug Peterson and daughter Rebecca Meurer and special son in law Tim Meurer. She has two devoted granddaughters Sarah and Grace Clemens whom she adored! Her oldest daughter Krista L Caldwell proceeded her in death along with her husband Paul along with many friends and family. 

Ruby’s Celebration of life will be Sat Feb 8th at 11AM At Holy Covenant Church in Carrollton. 1901 E Peters Colony Rd, Carrollton Texas 75007 Ruby’s Memorial. The service will be Live Streamed by clicking on the Holy Covenant Facebook group link https://www.facebook.com/groups/21895439863/ or by clicking on the Live Online Worship Link Live Online Worship » Holy Covenant United Methodist Church Carrollton, TX at the time of the Service - 11 AM Central Time. Both streaming options should pop up through these links at the time of the service.  

In lieu of flowers, please reach out to the family to coordin ate donations that will be shared with her loving care givers from Silver Oaks Assisted Living and Hospice Plus.