Obituary for Ruby Elizabeth Smith (Gillespie)
Mills River - Ruby Elizabeth Gillespie Smith, age 66, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 4, 2022.
Ruby was born in Transylvania County on September 22, 1955 to the late Jackson Alexander Gillespie and Farrow Suddeth Gillespie. She graduated from Brevard High School in 1973 and then went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree from Mars Hill University. On July 31, 1976 she married Danny Keith Smith, also of Brevard. She then continued her studies and graduated with a Registered Nursing degree from Troy State University in Troy, AL while Danny was stationed at Maxwell Airforce Base. They then returned to Brevard to start their family.
Ruby served her community faithfully for years as a nurse both at Transylvania Community Hospital and the Transylvania County Health Department. Most will remember Ruby from the Birthing Center, where many babies were first greeted into this world by her beautiful smile.
She is survived by her husband Danny; her daughters Ashley Cooper (Ricky Lawrence) and Abbey Fueger (Patrick); her grandchildren Madeline and Owen Cooper and Henry, Brooks, and Cynthia Fueger; her sister Jackie Owen (Lloyd); her brother Bill Gillespie (Brenda); and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
To know Ruby was to love Ruby. She loved flamingos, going to the beach, and going shopping; but most of all she loved her family, especially her 5 grandchildren who now carry her kind and loving spirit with them everyday.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that a donation be made in Ruby’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in order to support clinical research to cure Parkinson’s disease.
Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Ruby are invited to the Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Brevard at 11am, Wednesday, September 7, 2022 to celebrate her life with a family with Rev. Shelly Webb officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.
Ruby was born in Transylvania County on September 22, 1955 to the late Jackson Alexander Gillespie and Farrow Suddeth Gillespie. She graduated from Brevard High School in 1973 and then went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree from Mars Hill University. On July 31, 1976 she married Danny Keith Smith, also of Brevard. She then continued her studies and graduated with a Registered Nursing degree from Troy State University in Troy, AL while Danny was stationed at Maxwell Airforce Base. They then returned to Brevard to start their family.
Ruby served her community faithfully for years as a nurse both at Transylvania Community Hospital and the Transylvania County Health Department. Most will remember Ruby from the Birthing Center, where many babies were first greeted into this world by her beautiful smile.
She is survived by her husband Danny; her daughters Ashley Cooper (Ricky Lawrence) and Abbey Fueger (Patrick); her grandchildren Madeline and Owen Cooper and Henry, Brooks, and Cynthia Fueger; her sister Jackie Owen (Lloyd); her brother Bill Gillespie (Brenda); and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
To know Ruby was to love Ruby. She loved flamingos, going to the beach, and going shopping; but most of all she loved her family, especially her 5 grandchildren who now carry her kind and loving spirit with them everyday.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that a donation be made in Ruby’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in order to support clinical research to cure Parkinson’s disease.
Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Ruby are invited to the Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Brevard at 11am, Wednesday, September 7, 2022 to celebrate her life with a family with Rev. Shelly Webb officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory are caring for the family.