Ruby Corienne (Hilton) Rodgers, of Springfield, MO, passed away on October 16, 2014, at the age of 96, having been born on August 15, 1918, in Carthage, MO, to parents Everett Joshua Hilton and Ella Mae (LaFollette) Hilton. Ruby spent most of her early life around the Crane, MO, area, and later adult life around Springfield, MO.

Ruby is survived by her three children, LaQuita Hall and her husband, Fred (Springfield, MO), Caroll Elkins and his wife Mary (Forbestown, CA), and Gary Elkins (Cassville, MO); and grandchildren, Shaundell Hall (Springfield, MO), Nathan Hall (Ozark, MO), and Tony Elkins and his wife Fran (Loomis, CA).

Ruby worked all her life in various positions including: assisting her then husband, Clyde O. Elkins, in drilling water wells in southwest Missouri, sewing at the Crane Garment Factory, and working the assembly line at Royal McBee Typewriter Company until the factory moved out of Springfield. She then attended Draughon''s Business College in Springfield and was employed by then St. John''s Hospital as secretary to the Comptroller and eventually retired from St. John''s as the Mail Services Coordinator.

In her retirement years, she volunteered at Cox South Hospital where she met Val Rodgers. They were married in 1998 and spent 15 years together until his death in 2013. Val spent the later years of their marriage caring for Ruby as her health declined. After his death, Ruby lived with her daughter, LaQuita, and her family in Springfield.

It was a "gift of time" for both Ruby and LaQuita and all the family to have this opportunity to spend more time together before Rubys final move to her heavenly home. LaQuita said her Mom was her "biggest fan" and supporter throughout her life, and that everyone should have someone like that in their life. Ruby loved her family very much and let them know every day how much she enjoyed living with them.

Ruby was a very kind and caring person with a quick smile and kind word for everyone. She was always anxious to be of service to others and always wanted to share what she had. She was always very congenial and pleasant and, even as her health failed, she continued to be very gracious and concerned about others more than herself.

She was quick to make friends, both young and old. She maintained a youthful attitude and always said she was more "hungry for fun than for food." She enjoyed playing "Skip Bo" cards until the last few weeks of her life. She was a very faith-filled person all of her adult life. In her last months, she particularly enjoyed listening to "The Booth Brothers" gospel music through the Gaither gospel music programs.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Oxford Home Health and Oxford Hospice for their kind and compassionate care for Ruby and her family the last several months and then during her short last illness. LaQuita also wants to say a special "Thank You" to her family for their help and support in caring for her Mom and making her last 15 months some of the happiest of her life surrounded by her loving family. Ruby will be greatly missed by her family and her many friends.