Ruby Mackie

Funeral services for Mrs. Ruby Elizabeth Ray Mackie, age 100, of Cookeville, will be at 11 a.m. Friday April 7 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home with Rev. Eddie Payne and Rev. Jack Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at Cookeville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5 - 8 p.m. and again Friday from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mrs. Mackie passed away Monday evening April 3, 2017 at her residence. She was born October 21, 1916 in White County, TN to the late William Stipes (Jake) and Eliza Hampton Ray. She was the second daughter and the seventh of eleven children. Mrs. Mackie's mother died when she was 14 leaving behind Ruby and 4 younger siblings with the youngest being 20 months old. Mrs. Mackie was left with the daunting task of caring for herself and her siblings in rural White county during the depression without electricity or inside plumbing. She accepted the responsibility with a positive outlook always doing what was necessary, never complaining about the tough road she was to walk. This positive acceptance continued throughout her life with any challenge she was faced with. Mrs. Mackie's first job outside her home was at the Sparta Shirt Factory in her early 20's. She relished in the fact that she was earning money. Living her teenage years during the depression, she was dedicated to saving her money and spending prudently, another trait that remained with her throughout her life. Mrs. Mackie met her husband Elbert Lee walking between home and church in the early 40's. They were married on April 4, 1942. This was right in the middle of WWII. When Elbert joined the Army, Mrs. Mackie followed him to his first assignments in Michigan. After Mr. Mackie's deployment to Europe, she returned to Michigan where she worked at the Willow Run plant in Ypsilanti, Mich. riveting a bracket on the door of the B-24 Liberator bombers used during WWII. She fell into the category of those women referred to as "Rosie the Riveter". She was heard to say this was the best job (meaning lucrative) she ever had. Following WWII she began her life's work as wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt. She was fiercely protective and loyal to her family. As her siblings died, she continued to make sure their children were okay. When it came to her immediate family she was a constant source of love and providing for their needs. Mrs. Mackie was an avid and successful gardener planting by the signs of the moon. Not only did she and her husband maintain a very productive garden but she preserved the produce of the garden throughout the summer months via canning and freezing food for the winter. Mrs. Mackie's faith in God was obvious in all her actions. She was a "child of God" and instilled in her children this same faith filled heart. Continuing into her last days she sang gospel songs and read her Bible or asked it to be read to her. Mrs. Mackie's faith in God was the backbone of her life. She could be heard singing gospel songs as she happily went about her daily work both as a child at her home and as an adult in her and Mr. Mackie's home. Seeing that her children were raised in church was a priority. She was a member of Eastwood Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elbert Lee Mackie; seven brothers and six sisters-in-law, Casto and Jenny Ray, Dan and Sula Ray, Will and Rowena Ray, Hill and Tommie Ray, Dempsey and Rosamond Ray, Erbie and Nell Ray, and Bethel Ray; and three sisters and brothers-in-law, Almira and Luther Graham, Bonnie and Doyle Nash, Mildred and Beryl Malone. She is survived by two daughters and son-in-law, Gail Smith of Cookeville, Karen Stamey and Eddy Jones of Sparta; two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Linda Mackie of Sparta, Ray and Beverly Mackie of Cookeville; seven grandchildren, Chris Stamey of Florida; Candy Stamey Pearson of Nolansville, TN; Brett (Casey) Mackie of Johnson City, TN; Tyler (Jessica) Mackie of Johnson City, TN; Megan (Nathan) Mathis of Meridianville, AL; Chad (Katey) Mackie of Cookeville; and Felicia Mackie of Sparta; sister-in-law, Bonnie Ray of Antioch, TN; and twelve great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Brett Mackie, Tyler Mackie, Chad Mackie, Canaan Mackie, Steven Pearson, and Nathan Mathis. Honorary Pallbearers are Chris Stamey, Preston Stamey, Tatum Mackie, Maverick Mackie, Eli Mathis, and Hudson Mackie Holtzclaw. The family would like to thank the loving and respectful caregivers that have been with their Mother over the past several years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mustard Seed Ranch, 4955 Kuykendall Rd, Cookeville, TN 38501, or Debbie and Verlin Anderson, missionaries to Africa (payable to: CHSC with Anderson #0118 in memo line) Christian Health Services Corp (CHSC) P. O. Box 132, Fruitvale, TX 75127 or online: www.che4a.org. Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com