Dr. William Rugeley Livesay

Rugeley Livesay was born in Port Arthur, TX, on the 9th of July 1923, to Crawford Patterson Livesay and Reba Rugeley Livesay. He grew up in Houston, TX, attending San Jacinto High School and Rice Institute before going to the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston.

While a senior medical student, Ruge met his lifelong soulmate in Kittie Sue Jinkins at a dance in Galveston. Kittie and Ruge were married for almost 67 years until Kittie’s death in 2012.

After graduation, he did his internship at Hermann Hospital in Houston. Following the internship, Ruge was stationed on the island of Guam with the United States Navy. Kittie and their two young sons joined him on Guam for the last year of his station there.

When he returned to the States, Ruge was a resident in Internal Medicine at Hermann Hospital, and then received a fellowship in Cardiology at Jefferson Davis Hospital in Houston.

Ruge’s private practice in Internal Medicine and Cardiology later included being one of the founding partners of the Medical Clinic of Houston in 1968.

He also assumed leadership roles including Chief of the Medical Staff of St. Luke’s Hospital, Governor of the American College of Physicians, President of the Texas Club of Internists, President of the Houston Society of Internal Medicine, Chief of the General Medicine Section of St. Luke’s Hospital, and President of the Houston Chapter of the American Heart Association.

Ruge received numerous awards related to his medical profession including American College of Physicians’ “Governor of the Year”, Baylor College of Medicine’s “Outstanding Clinical Faculty Member”, and Baylor College of Medicine’s “Meritorious Service” Award. However, his greatest award was the relationship he developed with numerous patients over the 57 years that he practiced Internal Medicine.

Away from the medical profession, Ruge loved working weekends with “Miss Kittie” at their ranch in Central Texas. Together, they built out the interior of their first small house, hanging the sheetrock and cabinets and painting. Ruge and Kittie developed a Brangus breed of cattle, earning a reputation for excellent stock. At the end of a long day, he and Kittie would sit on the porch with a cold beverage looking out on the pastures. He used to say his favorite colors were “black on green”—black cattle on green grass.

Ruge and Kittie raised their three sons—Bill, Jim, and Mark—in a loving Christian home with strong beliefs in family, community, appreciation for all mankind, and the value of hard work.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, his parents, and by his daughter-in-law, Karen Livesay.

Ruge is survived by his three sons, William R. Livesay, Jr. and wife, Mary, Dr. James J. Livesay and wife, Robin, and Mark R. Livesay and wife, Pamela. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Carrie Livesay Tollar and husband, David, Kathryn Livesay Bruce and husband, Jay, Michael Livesay, Sarah Livesay, Jenny Livesay Webster and husband, Blake, Grant Livesay and wife, Ellie, Kevin Livesay, Renee Livesay, John Livesay, and Holly Livesay; step-grandchildren, Christina Lombana, Nicholas Lombana, and Natalia Lombana; his 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Col. (Ret.) C.P. Livesay, Jr. and wife, Carolyn, and Stanley R. Livesay and wife, Joyce; along with numerous nieces and nephews. The family and extended family of “Daddy Ruge” will be forever grateful for his inspirational love for each one of us.

The family would also like to express their eternal gratitude to his home caregivers, Emma Morales, Yolanda Arris, Hermalindo Cordero and Silvia Alvarado. Their care and warmth will always be remembered by his family.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 3rd of April, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The Memorial Service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 4th of April, in the sanctuary of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive in Houston, where Rev. Dr. Rick Myers, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries, is to officiate.

In lieu of customary remembrances, those wishing to honor Ruge’s memory are invited to contribute to the American Heart Association, 10060 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77054 (www.heart.org) or the charity of your choice.