Ruby Dell Gage, 84 years old, of Pampa, Texas, joined her Heavenly Father Saturday, December 18, 2021. She was born on March 21, 1937, in Hedley, Texas to Brooks and Cecil Riley.
Ruby was reared in the Hedley and Lefors areas and at the age of 16, she married the love of her life, Rex Gage, on November 3, 1953, in California. Together, throughout 68 years of marriage, they faced an unmeasurable number of trials, heartaches, obstacles and extraordinarily, they have overcome each of them – as a testament to their strength and love. Ruby was a wonderful wife, mother, and granny. She was constantly on the move and never stopped working but being the mother of three and the granny to 10, she didn’t have much of a choice but to work all the time. She had, of course, been a housewife, babysat, and ran the bait shop. While her kids were still involved in FFA, she was right in the big thick of it, doing what she did best…Momma Ruby to all the kids! She loved them and they loved her right back. As much as she loved her kids, they took back seat when grandkids came around, as they were “it” and she certainly wasn’t above playing with them on their level. Root beer floats, scary movies and gin rummy were a sure form of entertainment when getting to stay with granny. She was absolutely devoted to her family as she never missed a ballgame any of the kids played in, she doted on each and every one of them, she was proud of them, and she loved each of them unconditionally.
Ruby was a many faceted gift from God, she believed in the Lord with all her heart, loved to garden and then canned her harvest, she loved to go fishing, was incredibly tough, feisty, sassy and never failed to wear a beautiful smile that lit up a room. Although petite in stature, her grand presence and adorable personality will be missed oh so terribly.
She was greeted with open arms by her parents; sisters, Opal Riley, Rosalee Meeks and daughter, Cynthia Gay Flansburg.
Those who she leaves to laugh at her shenanigans and treasure her memories are her loving husband, Rex Gage of Pampa; two sons, Stephen Gage and wife Batyah of Paradise, Texas, Kenneth Gage and wife Jan of Woodward, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren, Amanda Taylor, Leslie Chenault, Stevie Lopez, Katie Gage, Christina McSperitt, Joshua Gage, Meggan Patrick, Addison Gerdes, Garrett Gerdes, Brandi Boller; enough great-grandkids to bait a trot line; a special friend, Walter Lee Brown of Pampa and a plethora of nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Ruby will be available to pay final respects on Monday evening from 5pm until 8pm, Tuesday from 9am until 8pm and again Wednesday from 9am until noon at Winegeart Funeral Home.
Celebration of Life Graveside services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 22, 2021, in Memory Gardens Mausoleum with Brother Jim Sinyard officiating. The family has entrusted the care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
Should donations be a preference, the family suggests they be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 1535 West Loop S, Houston, TX 77027 or by visiting www.stjude.org in memory of Ruby.
To leave words of love and peace for the family on Ruby’s Book of Memories, please visit www.winegeartfuneral.com.
