of Clarksville, AR

September 15, 1933 - February 19, 2022

Ruby Lorene Bean was born September 15, 1933 in Russellville, Arkansas to Erwin and Harriet Bean. She was the 4 th of 6 children and grew up in a bustling family helping her mother around the house. She attended school and church locally and in 1950 she married Billy Gene Freeman in the Spadra Baptist Church in Arkansas. She moved with her new husband to Clayton, New Mexico to be closer to Bill's family. She and her new husband lived in a one room house with only a kitchen and had to use Bill's folk's bathroom next door! She and Bill moved around the southwest these first few years. Ruby enjoyed keeping house while Bill held various positions. When Bill entered the Air Force, Ruby moved to Texas and later to England wherever Bill was stationed. The nights in the UK were thick with pea soup fog and Ruby would keep a fire going all night and play solitaire while her husband was working. It was in England where Ruby learned how to crochet and where her first son, Steve was born in 1954. After a trip to Germany to visit her sister Joyce, Bill was discharged, and they moved back to Clayton. When Bill re-enlisted in the air force, their second son Mark was born in Clarksville, AR in 1957. It was soon after that Bill was transferred to the Philippines. Ruby along with Steve and Mark went with him in 1958 where they lived for a few years. Nana had a housekeeper who did helped around the house, but Ruby, wanting the comforts of home, would do most of the cooking. While living in the Philippines, Bill enjoyed a five day trip to Hong Kong, China where he bought Ruby her treasured ivory fan and a gold ring with 2 Japanese pearls that she wore to her very last day. In 1960 They were transferred to San Angelo Texas and two years later their third son (and final child) Glenn was born. After a few more moves the whole family ended back in Clayton in 1965 when Bill was discharged from service. There, Ruby worked the small ranch, tried her hand at raising piglets and worked the land. It was rough going so they sold everything and moved to California in 1968. In '72 they moved up to Napa where Ruby attended and graduated from Kaye's American Beauty college and got board certified in cosmetology. Soon after she attended MTI Business College for Medical Administration and got a job as a clerk for a local doctor. When they moved south again Ruby worked for a plastic surgeon and rotated working in his various offices. Finding her knack in Medical Administration, Ruby worked for a few different doctors as a consultant for the plastic surgeons. When Bill's current job became stressful enough to cause health problems, they made plans to move back to their Clayton ranch with their sons and families. Ruby went to work for a local doctor and managed his office for 12 years while Bill worked for ENMR Telephone board. During these years they kept cattle, horses, and fowl. Ruby found a talent for gardening and kept the dry ranch property lush with beautiful flowers, thick grass and healthy trees. There were no sprinklers so it was a real labor of love to tend her gardens. When Bill retired as City Manager in 1995, they packed up the ranch house and the family and moved back to Clarksville AR. Ruby was finally back in her home town close to most of her family. While Bill worked as a security guard, Ruby never did work again and spent time helping to raise her grandchildren while enjoying trips to visit family. She took up writing poetry about her childhood. She also found a real interest in genealogy and family history and cherished her collection of black and white photographs. In 2000, Ruby and Bill celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with family and friends. In December 2010, after 60 years of marriage, Ruby lost the love her life; Bill had passed away. Ruby never moved again. Living on Montgomery across the street from her sister Katie with her granddaughter Angela and her family, and near her sons Steve and Mark, she felt right at home. She enjoyed a few more trips to California and a historic trip to the East Coast. In the fall of 2021, Ruby contracted Covid and beat it, but developed complications that would forever weaken her. In February of 2022, at the age of 88, she developed a double lung infection and passed away peacefully on February 19, 2022 in the local hospital surrounded by her 3 sons and all of her family. Ruby was blessed by her 3 sons, 5 grandchildren, 16 greatgrandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She will be laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery next to Bill on February 23, 2022. She will be remembered for her sharp mind, quick wit, strength, gentleness and beauty. She loved blue and white, which was reflected by her wardrobe, and always maintained poise and grace. Ruby was a bright light and anchor to her family. She loved with open arms, made Texas fudge and devil's food cake and always had the perfect hair and manicure. She will be loved forever in our memories and greatly missed.

A private family service was held on February 23, 2022. Her final resting place is at Oakland Cemetery in Clarksville, Arkansas.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home, online guestbook available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clarksville

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