COPELAND - Ruby Rose Unruh was born to Fred and Lephine (Sebrant) Schmidt on January 26, 1942 in Grady County near Chickasha, Oklahoma. After a courageous battle with cancer, she peacefully left this life on April 5, 2014 at Bethel Home in Montezuma, reaching the age of seventy-two years.

Answering the call of God, she repented and confessed her faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized on March 20, 1958 by Minister Abe D. Koehn. The grace of God was evidenced in her life by a settled faith in God and her salvation.

Ruby's childhood and youth years were spent in the Chickasha area. She received her education in Grady County Oklahoma. She completed nurses' training in Dodge City and practiced this profession many years, working at the Chickasha Hospital, Bethel Home in Montezuma and Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses. She had a caring heart and found purpose in her work. Ruby loved people and her ability to remember those she had met was impressive.

On December 7, 1986, Ruby was united in marriage to our father, Louis L. Unruh at the Grant Mennonite Church in Ulysses.  They enjoyed life together for almost 18 years. These were very pleasant years and one of the highlights of them was the time they spent in Albuquerque, New Mexico in mission work. When our father was diagnosed with cancer, she lovingly nursed him through his time of illness until his death in August of 2004.

Ruby added laughter and joy to our lives as a family and we easily loved her as our mother. We were often inspired by her optimism and spiritual courage. We enjoyed watching her spend time with her quilting, bird-watching, and embroidery. Other hobbies were crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She loved to read, proofreading many books for the school library.

Those left to cherish special memories are her step children, Clayton and wife Phyllis, Ron and wife Cheryl, and Larry and wife Rachel all of Copeland, Marcia and husband George Nichols of Muleshoe, Texas, Carl and wife Shari of Uvalde, Texas and Nancy and husband Elroy Penner of Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Canada, three brothers Marvin and wife Sharon Schmidt and Roy Schmidt all of Ulysses, Clayton Schmidt, Chickasha, Oklahoma; one sister Elsie Unruh of Greensburg; one sister-in-law, Virginia Finley and husband Larry of Bowling Green, Missouri; one brother-in-law Reynald and wife Mary Koehn of Murray, Kentucky;  33 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis; four brothers, Eldon, Oscar, Vernon, and Arthur; one sister, Norma Jean, two sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law; two grandsons; one granddaughter, and one great granddaughter.

Funeral service will be Thursday, April 10, 2:00 P.M. at the Salem Mennonite Church, Copeland. Burial will follow at the Salem Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel in Montezuma on Wednesday, April 10, 2014 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Memorials are suggested to the Satanta Long Term Care Unit or to Bethel Home Inc. both in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.