of Owasso, OK

December 29, 1934 - December 20, 2021

Ruby Faye Gatling Thompson stepped into Heaven on December 20, 2021, in her home in Owasso, OK. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM on December 29 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, AR 72211. A graveside service will be held on December 30 at Ida Mission Cemetery, 19293 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock AR 72210.

Ruby was born in Bearden, AR on December 29, 1934 to Richard and Carrie Gatling. She was the youngest of five children.

She married Elmer Joseph Thompson, the love of her life, on November 19, 1952, and enjoyed 56 years of marriage until his death in 2009. They were 21 years apart in calendar age, but very close in emotional age! They were nearly inseparable, especially after Elmer's retirement.

Ruby loved family with a passion. She was always looking for ways to do something for her family which included a steady progression of nieces, nephews and others who passed through her home. She was said to have a ''highly-expressed mama gene''! Because of this love of family, and maybe for a little extra income, she and Elmer started keeping foster babies. At one time there were EIGHT extra kids in the house, all under six months old! All that came to an abrupt end when Bucky, (Johnathan Wallace) was adopted out at about two years of age, having been with the Thompson family since birth. Ruby and Elmer tried to adopt him but the regulations were much different then and that proved to be impossible. After the bitter heart break of ''losing'' Bucky, Ruby and Elmer stopped being foster parents.

Ruby and Elmer lived just outside Little Rock for about 50 years until failing health precipitated their move to Oklahoma to live with their son, Richard, and his wife, Colleen in 2002. After moving, their granddaughters began having children of their own and those great-grandchildren became intense highlights in their lives.

Elmer died in 2009 at the age of 95. Life for Ruby became more difficult after the loss of Elmer and with increasing health issues. As the years passed, she suffered from occasional TIAs and dementia. She had to stop driving which put an end to her getting out of the house and going ''shopping'', something she dearly loved to do, as she would usually find something she wanted for a family member.

On the morning of June 19, 2021, her life changed forever. While taking her morning medications she apparently suffered from another major TIA or stroke. She later said she felt like someone pushed her down; she fell and broke her femur. Surgery followed and was successful, but time had taken its toll and she was not able to stand on her own after that. She entered home hospice care after leaving the hospital.

Over the past six months, Ruby was confined to her bed. It was a challenge for her and she would proudly admit it! However, those months were a very special time of stories, love, encouragement, hugs, kisses and knowing that everyone was cherished. She never let anyone leave the house without them knowing how much they were loved.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; her parents, Richard and Carrie Gatling; brother, James Gatling, and sisters, Mary McConnell, Virginia Boone, and Pauline Lair.

She is survived by her son, Richard Thompson and his wife, Colleen, of Owasso, OK, and their two daughters, Stephanie Renfro (Rob) of Tulsa and Sarah Malcom (Kerry) of Owasso. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Rachel, Brooke, Mandy & Jaden Renfro, and Isaac, Elizabeth & Sam Malcom.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in honor of Ruby to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital so that she may continue to help children, even in death. It's easy to do on the web. Make a donation to end childhood cancer - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org)

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