Osage County, Oklahoma, Obituary:  Ruby Inez Griffin

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
The Hominy News - Progress
P.O. Box 38, Hominy, Okla 74035
Transcribed by Sharon Hamilton: sharkay@cccexpress.com
Return to Osage County Archives:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/osage/osage.htm
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The Hominy News - Progress
Wednesday, August 7, 2002
Vol. 34, No. 32
Page 5

Ruby Inez Griffin

Ruby Lay Griffin was born Aug. 24, 1914 in Searcy County, Ark.  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 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.  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.

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 has 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 reentered the work force and became an 
"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 on 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 sun. 
Aug. 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 by a brother, Bill Lay and a sister, Jewel Dean Dillman.

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

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wed. Aug. 7, 2002 at the First 
Assembly of God church in Hominy with Pastor Dan Edens and Rev. George 
Boston officiating.  Burial was at the A. J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in 
Hominy under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

"Visit an online obituary and guest book for Ruby Griffin at 
www.chapman-black.com."
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