7 January 2021
Granite City-Ruby Cox Purkey {died|passed away} Thursday, January 7, 2021 at her {brother|sibling|bro} and {sister|sibling|sis}’s {home|house} in Granite City. She went {home|house} to be with her Lord and {Savior|Hero|Rescuer} Jesus Christ.
Ruby was born September 4, 1927 in Hartford, Illinois to Charles Burnett Cox and Nellie Koker Cox. She {married|wed} John O. Kirchner on April 5, 1946 and they had 1 {daughter|child}, Jane M. Kirchner, who {survives|makes it through|endures}. She {later|later on} {married|wed} Jack H. Purkey on February 19, 1993 and he passed in 2004.
She was a member and {past|previous} president of the Wood River VFW Auxiliary. She was a leader for her {daughter|child}’s {Girl|Woman|Lady} Scout Troop. She had {many|numerous|lots of} {jobs|tasks} throughout her life. She {worked at|operated at} {the Box|package} Board in Alton, and she {also|likewise} was a dispatcher for the East Alton {Police|Authorities|Cops} Department in the early 1960s. She worked as {a manager|a supervisor} for {Holiday|Vacation} Inn in St. Louis and {sold|offered} {insurance|insurance coverage} for {many years|several years}. She {moved to|transferred to|relocated to} California about 1963 where she worked as {a manager|a supervisor} for Howard Johnson’s hotel and for {many years|several years} as {an apartment house|an apartment building} {manager|supervisor}. She {later|later on} {moved to|transferred to|relocated to} Oklahoma. After her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner} Jack passed, she {moved to|transferred to|relocated to} Utah to {live with|deal with|cope with} her {daughter|child} and son-in-law. The last couple years of her life she {lived with|dealt with|coped with} her {siblings|brother or sisters}, Linda and Leonard, {because|since|due to the fact that} of the high elevation in Utah. {Before|Prior to} leaving Illinois, she {was a member of|belonged to} the Church of God in Bethalto. When she {returned to|went back to} Illinois she {joined|signed up with} the Anchor of Hope Fellowship Center Church on Milton {Road|Roadway} with Pastor Garney and his {wife|spouse|partner|other half|better half}, Karla, who is Ruby’s niece. They {have|have actually} been {very|extremely|really} {helpful|useful|valuable|practical|handy} in {caring for|taking care of|looking after} Ruby.
{Surviving|Making it through|Enduring} are her {daughter|child}, Jane M. Kirchner Little (Don), in Mapleton, Utah and 2 grandchildren, Mary (Derek) Seaquist in Tucson, Arizona and John (Danielle) Little in Spanish Fork, Utah; 6 {great|fantastic|terrific|excellent} grandchildren, Christian, Ryan, Ava Seaquist and Taylor Little Gibson, Ashlyn and Jesse Little; 1 great-great-granddaughter, Rosemary Gibson; one {sister|sibling|sis}, Linda M. Andrews, and one {brother|sibling|bro}, Leonard T. Cox, both living in Granite City, Illinois. She was {also|likewise} {cared for|taken care of|looked after} by a close and dear niece, Beverly Herrin.
She {has|has actually} been reunited with her {parents|moms and dads}, {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}, Jack, and 3 {sisters|siblings|sis}, Vurble Smith, Margaret Cox and Ann Marie Wright; 4 {brothers|siblings|bros}, Leslie, Charlie, Forrest, and Glenn Edward; and her {precious|valuable} {dog|canine|pet dog|pet}, Pixie.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 12 at Anchor of Hope Fellowship Center, 503 Milton {Road|Roadway}, Alton from 10 a.m. {until|up until|till} funeral services {begin|start} at 11 a.m. Pastor Seeram Garney will officiate. Social distancing and face coverings will be {required|needed}.
She will be buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}, Jack at a later date.
Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
{Professional|Expert} services {entrusted|delegated|turned over} to Paynic {Home|House} for Funerals, with an online guestbook and {information|info|details} at www.paynicfh.com
Source: riverbender.com