Ruby Fern Neal Brown, 92, passed away on March 2, 2022, in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the presence of her daughter, Cathy Gassert. Ruby, a homemaker, and long-time resident of Bartlett, Tennessee, lived for the past year in Knoxville.
Ruby, the youngest and last surviving child of Fred Lafayette Neal Sr. and Betty Delila Reveley Neal, was born on December 22, 1929, in El Paso, White County, Arkansas, but moved with her family to the Hurricane Hill community of Lauderdale County, Tennessee, in 1934. She grew up in Lauderdale County, worked on the family farm, attended schools in Ripley, and married her late husband, Clarence Alton Brown, also from Lauderdale County, on August 19, 1948, in Hernando, Mississippi. Clarence predeceased Ruby on October 19, 2017, having celebrated 69 years of marriage.
Clarence and Ruby had three children, Terrence Neal, married to Millie (Lakeland), Mickey Lee, married to Susie (Southaven), and Cathryn Lynne, married to Stephen (Knoxville), all born in Ripley. Additionally, Ruby leaves 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. In July 1960, the Browns moved to Memphis, for Clarence’s job with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and Ruby raised her family there. Also, Ruby worked for and retired from Sears, Roebuck.
In consideration of Ruby’s long-time membership in Ellendale Methodist Church, Bartlett, the family request that any memorials be sent to Ellendale United Methodist Church or Hurricane Hill Methodist Church in Ripley, Tennessee.
A graveside service for Ruby will be held Friday, March 4, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Ripley Memorial Gardens, 2625 Washington St. Ripley, TN.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Brown family.
