Ruby Lee Roberts

Ruby Lee McGee Roberts, 86, of Corpus Christi, TX, passed away Friday, December 15, 2023 at her home. She was born July 23, 1937 in Brookland, Arkansas. Her family made a living by picking cotton. Ruby often reminisced about playing in the cotton fields as her parents and older siblings worked.

The family moved to California when she was five years old. In a living environment similar to the one depicted in the movie “Grapes of Wrath”, the family lived in a tent until they could purchase a little three room house. After her father died, Ruby grew up fast and became the “mom” for the family as her mother, brothers, and sister worked in the canneries to support the family. Ruby cooked, cleaned, washed and ironed and took care of the younger siblings while trying to get an education.

At the age of 17, Ruby was introduced by a neighbor to her future husband. Daniel David Roberts was on his way home to Texas upon completion of his military duties in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. After only three brief encounters, Daniel married Ruby, the “jewel of his life,” on September 2, 1955. They were married for 58 years and had a son and three daughters.
In keeping with the teachings of her mother and the experiences she had as a youth, Ruby showed her love and resourcefulness by growing, preserving, and cooking food to keep her family fed, by sewing clothes for her children, and by sewing scraps of fabric into beautiful quilts that warmed her family and friends. Ruby also worked painstakingly in her yard to “keep it looking good.”
Family had a special place in Ruby’s heart, especially the grands and greats. With help from her son and daughters, Ruby was able to participate in the annual family Thanksgiving 2023 celebration at Camp Deer Run in Winnsboro, TX with the majority of her family. She loved being able to hold hands, hug, kiss, and watch the children play together.

Ruby was a member of the Arlington Heights Church of Christ. A majority of her time was spent in quiet service encouraging others, teaching, preparing meals, making home, hospital, and nursing home visits, cleaning the baptistery and preparing communion. She had a lovely spirit of service which she taught by example to her daughters. Recently, while in the garden area at MD Anderson Hospital, she spotted a less fortunate man in a wheel chair. She asked for her purse and made her way over to speak with him.

Ruby worked as baker and cashier at the Tuloso-Midway School Cafeteria before retiring in 1995. For over 20 years, she served as a weekly volunteer at Lynnhaven Nursing Home and also served at the Food Bank of Corpus Christi stocking shelves and working directly with clients to choose their food. In support of her children, Ruby spent time serving as school homeroom mother, as a Cub Scout Den Mother and as a Girl Scout Leader.

Ruby is preceded in death by her parents, Dewey Keaton and Ruby Mae Blanton McGee; five brothers, Ottie, Dewey, Jr., Billy, James, and Bobby; one sister, Imogene; husband, Daniel; grandsons, Kevin and Arnold; granddaughter, Sharon; great-great grandson, Chase; and daughter-in law, Connie. 

She is survived by her children, Darlene (Steve) Burton, Nathan Roberts, Connie (Brent) Willson, and Gail (Greg) Evans; eleven grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and two great, great-grandchildren; her brother, Lonnie; sisters, Beatrice and Martha; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A meal and visitation with family and friends will be Thursday, December 21, from 12pm-1:30pm at Arlington Heights Church of Christ Family Center at 2722 Rand Morgan Road. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the main building at the same location with Brent Willson officiating with the assistance of Greg Evans and Steve Burton. Honorary pallbearers will be the grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Burial will be at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery at a later date.