Ruby Mae Ella Stone (Van Cleave)

Ruby Mae Ella Stone (Van Cleave), age 92, of ODESSA, Texas passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. She was born August 5, 1931, in Slaton, Texas, to West Texas pioneers William (Will) Henry Christian Meyer and Mary Rachel Alberta (Birdie) Hinson. She grew up on the Posey Family Farm near Slaton and graduated from Cooper School, Class of 1948, when she was seventeen. She married Travis Stone, from Lamesa, Texas, on August 22, 1948, in Woodrow, Texas.

Travis and Ruby lived in Lamesa where they welcomed daughters, Linda and Connie, before moving in 1952 to Hobbs, New Mexico, to farm. After losing their “shirts,” they moved back to West Texas in 1953 and lived in Dimmitt. They leased a farm in Black, Texas, in 1954, and were living in a narrow two-story home they affectionally called “The Shoe.” Sons Steve and Gary were born during that time. Travis bought two acres from his landlord and friend Harland Frye and, armed with building plans for a home you could build and move anywhere, built the family home on the acreage. Later he traded interest in a half section of land to partner George Frye in exchange for 80 acres adjacent to the new home. Ruby joined the Friona Baptist Church and sang in the choir – she was a beautiful singer. She was a long-time member of the famous Black Study Club, a dynamic social group of local farmer wives and widows.

Ruby was always creating to stay busy … painting, sewing, quilting, crocheting, canning, baking, cooking. She loved playing games and was very competitive. During harvest, she drove the dump trucks, filled with the harvest, to the Black Coop, then rushed home to get food on the table for the harvest crew. A hard worker, she hoed weeds in the fields, help herd the cattle, skinned and filleted fish from their short-lived fish farm (never liked eating fish after that!) and kept a beautiful yard on the homestead.

After Travis died on March 15, 1995, Ruby sold the family farm in Black and bought a lovely home in Lubbock. Later she moved to Whitesboro to be near her daughter, Connie. In 2015, she returned to Odessa and stayed in Lincoln Towers, where she met her second husband, Lloyd Van Cleave. They married on March 25, 2017. He passed on November 11, 2020. During the Covid Pandemic, Ruby moved to Brookdale Sherwood Assisted Living where she made many good friends.

In August 2023, she entered Buena Vida Rehab and Nursing Center where dear family and friends celebrated her 92nd birthday. A month later, on September 13, 2023, she left us. Just quietly slipped away peacefully. That was like her. She didn’t like the limelight, was always in the background, but she loved her family and friends and played an important role in their lives. She in return was greatly loved … and will be greatly missed.

Ruby was pre-deceased by parents William and Birdie Meyers, husbands Travis Stone and Lloyd Van Cleave, grandson Chad Scott Jameson. She is survived by her four children: Linda Kay Stone Reznik (Michael), Connie Mae Stone Jameson Baccus, Steven Wayne Stone (Irene), Gary Don Stone (Diana). She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Mikala Dawn Reznik Ratliff Spruill, Derek Shayne Reznik (Megan), Somer Renee Stone Adkins (Randy), Matthew Ely Stone (financee Gissell), Tyrel Rolin Stone (Leeza), Lydia Ruth Stone Konstanski (Daniel), Joshua Daniel Stone (Jennifer), Anna Miriam Stone Stallcup (Bubba), Nathan Noah Stone (Kaitlin), Hope Elizabeth Jameson (John). And she is survived by twenty-six great grandchildren: Major, Drake, Lincoln, Jaxton, Griffin, Lochlyn, River, Mac, Thacia, Damaris, Nelson, Ben, Hadassah, Ellianna, Tirsa, Judea, Caleb, Naomi, Levi, PJ, Philip, Joshia, Ruthie, Abigail, Avrey.

A public visitation for Ruby will be held Friday, September 29, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Frank W. Wilson Funeral Directors, 4635 Oakwood Dr, Odessa, Texas 79761. A funeral service will occur Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 10:00 AM, 4635 Oakwood Dr, Odessa, Texas 79761. A burial will occur Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 3:30 PM at Englewood Slaton Cemetery, 1100 N 20th St,, Slaton, TX 79364.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.frankwwilson.com for the Stone (Van Cleave) family.