Ruby Maddox Smith

Published 9:17 am Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Ruby Maddox Smith, 93, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, in Tampa, Fla.

Ruby was born in Santa Rosa County, Fla., on July 21, 1921, as the first child of Henry and Clara Carnley Maddox.

She had a brother, Earl Maddox and a sister, Agnes Maddox Schultz, whom both preceded her in death.

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Ruby was married for 57 years to William Gail Smith Sr. and resided her entire married life in Atmore. They opened the Western Auto Supply in 1937 and operated it for 42 years. After Gail’s passing in 1999, Ruby moved with her daughter Julie’s family to Decatur.

In 2003, Ruby moved to Lithia, Fla., with Julie’s family and enjoyed the remaining years of her active life. Ruby loved spending time with family, studying her Bible and growing flowers. Her greatest story was her testimony about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ruby is survived by four children, William (Bill) Gail Smith Jr. of Dothan, Kay Smith LaVigne of Olive Branch, Miss., Don Smith of Atmore and Julie Smith Osenton of Lithia; 12 grandchildren, Matt Smith and Mikey Smith (children of Bill and Carol Smith), Sarah Smith Tolleson and Mary Katherine Smith (children of Bill and Marilu Smith), Kelley LaVigne Sturman, Lisa LaVigne and Wendy LaVigne (children of Bob and Kay LaVigne), Rob Osenton, Ryan Osenton and Kaitlyn Osenton (children of Malcolm and Julie Osenton), Eric Roberts and Stephanie Roberts Maddox (children of Don and Laura Smith); 14 great-grandchildren; Hannah, Haleigh and Hunter (children of Brian and Kelley Sturman), Lexie, Emma, Macy and Abby (children of Matt and Claudia Smith), Isabel and Peyton (children of Mikey and Deanna Smith), Charlotte (child of Rob and Meg Osenton), Christian and Peyton ( children of Eric and Morgan Roberts) and Taylor and Eli (children of Walt and Stephanie Maddox).

Services will be held Saturday Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Jack Lockhart officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday, Nov. 21, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home, Inc., was in charge of all arrangements.