Ruby May Coleman

Ruby May Guillory Coleman entered heaven on April 15, 2015 at the age of 92. Ruby was an only child born on June 9, 1922 in Dallas, Texas to Walter and Thelma Guillory. During her lifetime, she experienced many historical events that occurred around the world.

Her father, Walter Guillory, was a Louisiana Frenchman, a direct descendent from the Acadians who had been abolished from France to Nova Scotia and later deported to southern United States. Walter Guillory migrated to Texas and became a street car operator over the unpaved streets in Dallas, Texas. Ruby’s mother, Jenny Thelma Stanford, came from a long line of Methodist ministers. Her great-great-great-grandfather founded the Stanford Chapel on Chapel Road in southern Waco, Texas. The Chapel and adjoining cemetery were maintained for over a century by his descendants. Today, the chapel is gone, but the Stanford Chapel Cemetery remains in its entire splendor.

In Ruby’s early years she recalls the Great Depression. Her family made sacrifices by her father giving up his job one day a week to a man who was out of work and her mother would provide sandwiches and glasses of milk to anyone who knocked on the door.

High school days at Sunset High in Oak Cliff were formidable with budding relationships that lasted over 50 years. Ruby played the clarinet in the marching band and would tell us of marching in parades from Fair Park to the I30 viaduct. She graduated from Sunset High in 1940.

America entered World War II in December 1941. Ruby met a young man while dancing at the USO. He was wearing a Naval officer’s uniform who was in Dallas training to be a Navy pilot. In March 1943, she married her military sweetheart, Kenneth Lee Coleman. Kenneth’s father was an Oklahoma oilfield lineman and his mother, Ollie Shelley, a Cherokee Indian descent. Ruby and Kenneth were stationed around the country following his assignments. During their Navy years, Ruby raised three loving children, all while keeping her white gloves white and her high heels on. Ken’s last big adventure was, as a civilian, teaching a government auditing class in Saigon, Vietnam. On the night he came home Ruby let her youngest daughter, Ann, stay up late to watch astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin walk on the moon. After military life they settled in Dallas, Texas - less than 5 miles from Ruby’s birth place. Retirement later brought Ruby and Kenneth to central Texas, originally to Cedar Park in Austin, Texas then finally to Cedar Creek in Bastrop County, Texas.

With such a significant heritage it was no surprise she became the definition of a classy lady. As her husband described her, “She would not step outside her front door without make-up applied, hat, gloves, nylons, and high heels to tip toe two steps on the grass in the front yard to get the daily newspaper.” Ruby’s taste was impeccable. Even though her main role was to maintain the home and raise her three children, she loved traveling, shopping at the mall, and long scenic drives. She was shopping in downtown Dallas in 1963 when she stepped outside to see President Kennedy’s last parade. For a short period of time, she had a part time job in a department store, earning many sales awards. She eventually left as she would spend more on the merchandise she was selling than the income she was bringing home. While in Dallas she enjoyed being a member of the Oak Cliff Woman's Club. They offered her numerous officer positions but she declined because she just wanted to be one of the girls. Ruby’s most notorious hobby was china painting. She won 1st place award at the Texas State Fair in 1972 for not only her free painting but for inventing a new color.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Sr. in March 2011. She is survived by three children, Kenneth Coleman Jr. of Estes Park, Colorado, Janice Smoot Poindexter of Phoenix, Arizona, and Anita (Ann) Brewster Martinez of Bastrop, Texas. Ruby was graced with 7 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Ruby's great-grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she would show them off whenever she could.

In the last few years, Ruby made many new friends. Thanks and gratitude go out to the caregivers who were more of her companions – Melissa, Angie, Ana, and the very dedicated Vanessa, who Ruby considered her best friend. Also appreciation goes to the nurses and staff at Bastrop Lost Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Gentiva/Odyssey Hospice for their dedication and kindness over the past year.

Arrangements have been made to lay Ruby May Coleman to rest. Visitation will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 1pm to 4pm at Cook Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home in Austin, Texas. Then returning to her roots in Oak Cliff she will be buried next to her husband and alongside her mother and father. There will be a graveside service on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 2pm at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. A gathering after the service will be announced.

Ruby will be remembered as a beautiful, loving mother, wife, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. We would like to paraphrase her words she spoke to us every day, “Goodnight Sweetheart, we love you.