RUBY R. SMITH

Ruby R. Smith, 82, a long-time resident of Panama City, Florida, died in a Fort Smith, Arkansas Hospital on March 9, 2010 after a battle with liver cancer. She was born in Beach, Georgia on May 15, 1927 and resided in Panama City, until 1995 when she moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas to be with her beloved only child, Charles E. Smith. She was the surviving widow of Clarence Earl (Red) Smith, who predeceased her in 1997.

Ruby was a retired Office Manager of Gulf Tank Company Panama City, Florida. She is survived by her son, Charles E. Smith and his wife, Cathy, of Fort Smith, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Missy Smith and Chris Smith of Fort Smith, and Anne Smith Mills of Little Rock and her sister, Sarah Lou Herren, of Canton, Georgia.

She was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Panama City and enjoyed attending Goddard United Methodist Church of Fort Smith. At First Presbyterian, she was active in all aspects of church life, focusing on Sunday School and administrative duties. She was an avid reader, gardener, and an astute observer of sporting, political and social events. Ruby was preceded in death by her beloved cat, Felix, the last in a long line of felines adored by her. She was a true patriot and "child of the South". Her life focused on all aspects of the Southern life-style, devotion to her family and her country, reading, love of animals, enjoyment of warm weather, and ways of making her fellow humans feel special in her presence. She was devoted to her son, Charles, her long-time caregiver, and to his family. Ruby enjoyed engaging in long discussions on any given topic with her family, neighbors, and with complete strangers. The central theme of her life was loyalty to her family, animals, beloved Florida, and to her Country. She personified the expression "friend for life".

The family will visit with friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Ruby requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Mercy Hospice, 7301 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR.

Wilson Funeral Home