RUBY (GIBSON) PUGH KRUEGER
Ruby Jewell Gibson Pugh Krueger passed away July 25, 2021, at the age of 102.
Ruby was born Jan. 9, 1919, in Bremond, to Ernest and Lula Gibson. Her father worked for Pure Oil Company during the 1920 oil boom in Mexia, continuing in the business until he retired around 1965. The oldest of four girls, Ruby grew up in and around Mexia with her sisters Ernestine, Nadine, and Francis. She enjoyed playing baseball and posing in her bathing suit with her sisters and friends. She played drums in the school band and graduated from Mexia High School in 1939.
Ruby married Ray Louis Pugh on June 16, 1940, and the two were blessed with four children: Ray Ernest, Frances Sharon Ann, Bobby Louis and Jerry Alford. She was a loving, stay-at-home mother until her children were all in school. She got a job at Tratum’s Grocery Store across the street from Ross Elementary School, her children’s school. She worked during the lunch hour cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, and her children would all go there for lunch. She wanted to make sure her children would have a good meal for lunch and so she could keep an eye on them at school.
A few years later, Ruby started working as a clerk at Duke & Ayers, a five-and-dime store in Mexia. She later went on to work at the Mexia State School as a switchboard operator and stayed there until her retirement in 1983. During this time, she was very active in the Rebekah Lodge No. 190 of Mexia, where she was a Past Noble Grand. She was also a member of the Mexia Methodist Church.
Ruby’s husband, Ray Louis Pugh, passed away in October 1975, after a long battle with cancer. She remarried to Oscar Krueger in 1978. After Ruby retired from the Mexia State School, she and Oscar moved to Hewitt, where they quickly became active members of the Hewitt First United Methodist Church.
Ruby was very active in her retirement. She enjoyed traveling with the Triple L Club to places such as Big Bend, Yellowstone National Park, and multiple trips to Branson, Mo. She also did Meals on Wheels and volunteered at the Hewitt Chamber of Commerce. She also really loved harvesting the pecans from the tree around her house. Shelling and cleaning the pecans occupied her through the winter. When she was not working on her pecans, Ruby had her crafts, making pencil pockets or stringing beads.
One of Ruby’s best days was celebrating her 100th birthday. Her family arranged a birthday party at the church with over 225 guests. Even more important to her, she got to meet her weatherman, Rusty Garrett, of KWTX. She had watched him on TV, but had never had an opportunity to meet him. When he showed up at her birthday party, she had a wonderful surprise.
Ruby is survived by a long list of sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren:
• Ray Ernest and Catherine Pugh; grandchildren: Anthony Ray Pugh, Anthony Wayne Lawall and Carmen Elizabeth Jacob; great-grandchildren: Cara Elizabeth Pope, Annalisa Jacob, Ori Jacob, Stefanie Poole and Kristi Davis; great-great-grandchildren: Olivia Wethington, Ellie Davis and Alexander Davis.
• Bobby Louis Pugh and wife Carol (deceased); granddaughter Tina Marie Williams; great-granddaughters: Jaycee Williams and Hannah Williams,
• Jerry Alford and Gloria Pugh, grandchildren: Jerri Ann Pugh, Bridget Pugh, Justin Pugh, and Ashley Jean Pugh; great-grandchildren: Ashton Pugh, Bridget Washington and Autumn Rose Pendleton.
• Francis Sharon Ann Wise (deceased 12/23/18); son-in-law Darrell Wise, grandchildren: Michael Wise, Melanie Kasper and Susan Rodgers; great-grandchildren: Christopher Wise, Katie Wise, Lauren Kasper, Kristin Kasper, Caitlyn Kasper, Davis Kasper, Tabitha Rodgers, and Tristan Rodgers.
Ruby’s family has planned a memorial service for Friday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Hewitt. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Mexia City Cemetery.
Friends are encouraged to visit www.corleyfuneralhome.com to share memories of Ruby’s life with the family. Corley-Porter Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Krueger Family during this difficult time.
