Ruby LaRue

Ruby LaRue was born on March 20, 1936, in Pope County, Arkansas, to Luke and Frona Hickey. She grew up in Pleasant Grove in Pope County, Arkansas, and built a life centered on her family and the simple pleasures that made home such a special place.

Ruby met Jesse LaRue at a dance, beginning a love story that would carry them through many years together. They married when Ruby was just 16, and the story of their wedding included a little stretching of the truth about her age. When Jesse was drafted into the United States Army, they moved to Washington, where they spent two years before returning to Arkansas and making their home on LaRue Ridge.

Together, Ruby and Jesse raised three children: Larry, Cynthia Kay, and Gary. They moved to Tulsa in the 1960s and made Glenpool their home 49 years ago. Later in life, they attended Lilly of the Valley, where Jesse served as a deacon.

A homebody at heart, Ruby found happiness in caring for her family, working in her garden, and preparing the meals everyone loved. She was a wonderful cook, especially known for her hot rolls made from a secret recipe, her sweet potatoes, and her cornbread dressing. Those familiar dishes became part of the memories her family will always treasure.

Ruby's love of gardening brought beauty to her home and joy to those passing by. Her hydrangeas and lilacs were particularly admired, with passersby stopping to appreciate the flowers she so lovingly tended. She took pleasure in watching things grow and surrounding her home with color.

To her grandchildren, Ruby was their loving Nana-and a worthy opponent at the game table. She enjoyed board games and cards, but she especially loved beating her grandchildren at Yahtzee. Her playful, competitive spirit made those moments together all the more memorable. Nana loved her grandchildren dearly, and she loved winning, too.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse LaRue, and her parents, Luke and Frona Hickey.

She is survived by her three children: Larry LaRue and his wife, Barbara, of Glenpool, Oklahoma; Cynthia Kay Sauceda and her husband, Laurencio, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Gary LaRue of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Her legacy continues through her six grandchildren, Jordan Sauceda, Jennifer Hedrick, Tonya Foster, Ashton LaRue, Kaitlyn Pilcher, and Kyle Thomas; 15 great-grandchildren; and 27 great-great-grandchildren.

Ruby will be remembered in the comforting memories of meals from her kitchen, the beauty of her flowers, and the laughter shared over a game of Yahtzee. Above all, she will be remembered as a loving mother and Nana whose greatest joy was found in the family she held close.

A funeral service honoring Ruby's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday at Pleasant Grove Assembly of God, with committal following at Pollard Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Family Funeral Service.