Ruby Burton Erhart's Obituary
Ruby Erhart was born on August 7th, 1922 in Roswell, New Mexico. She moved between Roswell and Rogers, Arkansas throughout her childhood. She obtained a high school diploma and settled in Roswell prior to World War II where she held several jobs including working at the gas company and as a waitress at a local café.It was while as a waitress, she met and eventually married James E. Erhart, who was stationed at the Army Air Force base outside of town. Jim chased her for a long time as Ruby refused to date a serviceman, but Jim was relentless and won her heart. Like many couples at that time, Jim got a three-day pass for Christmas and Jim and Ruby got married on December 24th, 1943.About six moths after the wedding, Ruby’s Father and Sister were killed in a tragic accident. They brought Ruby’s mother, Bertha L. Burton into their home where she lived with them until her death. It was through bertha’s death that Ruby gained her reputation as a caregiver. She cared for her mother who became bedridden for the last seven years of her life and Grandma Burton passed away in Ruby’s arms.Jim and Ruby lived and worked in Roswell for several years following the war, until Jim decided to go to work for one of the big airlines. Detoured due to bad weather, they went through Tulsa, OK and stopped at the huge American Airlines maintenance base. Ruby always complained that Jim left her in that hot car for over an hour, but when he returned, they had a week to pack up and move to Tulsa where he spent 37 years with American. After a couple of years in Tulsa, they built a home that they moved into in 1950 and Ruby resided there until her death. Ruby loved the yard at that house and was an avid gardener growing her prized Azaleas and many other types of flowers, plants and trees.In 1955, Jim and Ruby were blessed with their only child, James “Mike” Michael Erhart. Jim and Ruby had attended several churches through their lives, but began attending Rogers Heights Christian Church and raised Mike in that congregation. Ruby was active in women’s ministries and shared an obvious love for the Lord. Eventually, as Rogers Heights closed its doors, Ruby became a member of East Side Christian Church where she remains a member to this day.After losing her mother and with her son moving away to pursue a career, Ruby and Jim settled into retirement in the same house in Tulsa that they built in 1950. They traveled, picnicked, read and enjoyed music. Ruby became something of a sports fanatic and especially loved basketball.In 2004, Ruby lost her best friend and companion when husband Jim went to be with the Lord. Ruby chose to remain in the home she and Jim built together and continued to enjoy reading, music, television and pets. One day, Ruby managed to become the owner of a cat in a family of dog lovers. However, she tried to raise that cat just like a dog and that was a source of amusement for the family. Ruby also enjoyed a number of dogs as her personal companions and was a great caregiver to each of those animals.Ruby was always a strong and vital woman, fiercely advocating for her mother, her husband, her son and her grandson — Providing care for each of them throughout the years. She was determined to remain in the home in Tulsa that she and Jim built and was still living, cooking, driving and providing for herself until months before her demise. She did have several caregivers who brought her comfort and peace of mind during this time. She will miss her hairdresser, Cheryl and her caregivers Dean and Darlene who became her best friends as Ruby outlived all of her friends and relatives. In her final days, Ruby became friends with the staff of Valir Hospice care and they were a source of care and comfort to her. In keeping with the tradition Ruby established, her son Mike and his wife Doris took Ruby into their home for her final months where she lost her battle to cancer.Her son, Mike, daughter-in-law, Doris, and grandson, Aaron, all of Oklahoma City, survive Ruby. She has a niece, Patty Gay, her husband Bill and sons Rodney and Robert Gay, all of Scottsdale, Arizona. She has a cousin Arleta Dill of Albuquerque, New Mexico.Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Floral Haven Funeral Home from 12 pm to 8 pm. Services will be handled by Floral Haven Funeral home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Monday, January 18th, 2016 at 10:00am. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Floral Haven Funeral Home from 12 pm to 8 pm.
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