Ruby Inez Griffin

Ruby Lay Griffin was born August 24, 1914 in Searcy County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Stanley Andrew and Hattie Lay. Ruby was raised on a farm with six brothers and a sister. At a young age, Ruby learned the value of hard work and was proud to help the family pick cotton. Her family taught her to trust in God, church, family and friends and that a good name is greater than riches.

Ruby moved at an early age with her family to the Prue, Oklahoma area where she was raised and attended school. Ruby made her profession of faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as a teenager and was one of the charter members of the First Baptist Church in Prue, Oklahoma. She graduated from Prue High School at the age of sixteen and went on to receive her teaching certificate from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Ruby was married to George Griffin on March 19, 1934 and to this union was born three children, Georgia, Donnie and Joe. In 1952, the couple made their home and raised their family in Hominy. Ruby lost her father, mother, husband and nearly lost her own life in a car accident in 1952. With the help of God, family and friends she was not left alone to raise her three children. Her children grew up and blessed Ruby with five grandchildren and five special great grandchildren.

Her faith, children, grandchildren and work kept Ruby going. She enjoyed her work and helping other people. She lived the song that reads: ''Give the world a smile each day, helping someone along life's way.'' Ruby found the perfect balance of church, family and work that made her life special and happy.

Ruby had been in the retail business for nearly fourteen years when the opportunity to be on the ground floor of a ''family planning program'' became a reality in 1967. She was employed in this position for seventeen years. During her tenure with the Oklahoma State Health Department, Ruby was named ''Pioneer Woman'' for success in establishing the first family planning clinic in Oklahoma.

Ruby retired at the age of seventy-four but knew she could accomplish more. At the age of seventy-seven, she re-entered the work force and became and ''outreach worker'' for the Osage County Nutrition Program, where she worked until the age of eighty-five. She received many awards and certificates over the years but was extremely proud to be chosen one of Oklahoma's ''Ageless Heroes''.

Ruby has been faithful member and Sunday school teacher at the First Assembly of God Church in Hominy for many years. She passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2002 at her home in Hominy at the age of eighty-seven, eleven months and ten days. In addition to her parents and husband, Ruby was preceded in death a brother, Bill Lay and a sister, Jewel Dean Dillman.

Ruby is survived by her children, Georgia Anne Hester, Hominy, Oklahoma, Donnie and wife Raelene Griffin, Orlando, Florida, and Joe and wife Linda Griffin, Cleveland, Oklahoma; brother, Gerald Lay, Hominy, Oklahoma; sister, Joyce Beckham, Cleveland, Oklahoma; brother, R.L. Lay, Tulsa, Oklahoma; brother, Kenneth Lay, Edmond, Oklahoma; five Grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at the First Assembly of God Church in Hominy with Pastor Dan Edens and Rev. George Boston officiating. Burial will be at the A. J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

''Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Ruby Griffin at www.chapman-black.com.''