Ruby Christine Kinsey

Ruby Christine Sessums Kinsey, age 89, from Grand Prairie, Texas drew her last breath surrounded by her family on Thursday September 3, 2020. Ruby, a feisty and fiery redhead, came into this world with a firecracker attitude; born on the 4th of July 1931 in Bennington, Oklahoma. Ruby was a dedicated mother and grandmother. Her family was always first and foremost in her heart. She treasured each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ruby is survived and loved by her daughters: Dawn Gaston (Richard), Denise Thurston Newton and Cheryl Harmon. She is the adored Grandma of Dustin Roberts (Tish), Jason Roberts, Spencer Gaston, Aubrey Newton, Damian Newton (Phylicia), Meagan Arnold, Brandon Arnold, and Destinee Harmon; Great Grandma of Samuel, Alex, Ariel, Cecelia and Isabella. She is also survived by friend and sister-in-law, Fern Sessums, and many nieces and nephews, each she loved dearly. She cherished each moment spent with every family member. Ruby has excitedly anticipated a family reunion with those who have gone before her to be in the arms of our Lord Jesus. She is now with her mother, Mary Ethel Jones Sessums, and brothers Levi "Sonny" Sessums (Dorothy), Lloyd Sessums (Mable), Delbert Sessums (Lois), Virgil Sessums, Sidney Sessums (Sue), James Floyd "Monk" Sessums. Ruby was the only girl in her family. Sis, as she was nicknamed, was next to the youngest of six brothers. Living in the country, picking cotton in the fields with a house full of boys made her grow up tough. She always believed that she could do whatever the boys could. Ruby held several jobs during her life. As a young woman she sewed gloves at Wells Lamont and jeans at the Lee factory in Paris, Texas. She was employed at Texas Instruments assembling some of the earliest computers working with resistors. Ruby attended classes to learn to rivet and read blueprints to build aircraft. Like "Rosie", she became one of the first women to work alongside men building airplanes at LTV in Grand Prairie. Ruby was very petite and could be hoisted upside down into tight spaces that no one else could reach. Other women tried and failed claiming the work was too hard. No one ever heard Ruby say anything was too hard. She later used these same skills at Murdoch Engineering and General Dynamics. Later in life when Dawn and Denise were teenagers and Cheryl was a baby, Ruby went to night school to attain her Real Estate License. She was a realtor for Red Carpet Real Estate in Grand Prairie. Of course, Ruby never did anything halfway, she became one of Pat Watson’s top selling agents winning many awards. She may have even sold your house. Ruby had an entrepreneurial and creative spirit which she passed on to her daughters. She owned and operated Ultimate Creations Floral and Gifts in Grand Prairie where she had the distinction of creating the first white homecoming mum for her daughter during Cheryl’s sophomore year homecoming which has brought about a tradition in the Grand Prairie high schools and other high schools in the mid-cities area. Ruby owned A Touch of Class, an antique and vintage business inside antique malls, Treasure Island, and Traders Village until her health would not let her continue to be on location. Ruby worked until she was 84 years young. She never voluntarily retired and daily voiced her desire to go to work. Ruby worked hard but she also played hard. She loved baseball, playing with the boys on men’s teams in her youth, hair under her baseball cap, fooling the other teams’ players and spectators. Ruby especially loved her Texas Rangers. She was one of the Rangers’ biggest fans. She could tell you stats for any of the players. She was still recording their games and watching them play up until the end (literally). She imparted her love for the game by helping launch and coach some of the first girls softball teams in Grand Prairie for the Grand Prairie Girls Softball Association. She coached for two decades bringing her teams the "Blazers" and the "Gold Nuggets" to many championships and victories. She impacted the lives of many young girls. She taught them sportsmanship, to do their very best, to never give up, and that every girl had potential. Even when Ruby could no longer coach, she still made the games and cheered them on. One thing you may not know about Ruby was that she was a champion and protector of women and children. Even though she was a single mother trying to make ends meet she opened her home to mothers and their children seeking refuge. She never turned away anyone in need. She spent most of her life caring for others. Ruby was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Grand Prairie where she attended from 1960 until she could no longer attend due to her health. She always took her girls to church where they learned to love Jesus and were baptized. But she was not finished, she later brought her grandchildren to make sure they would also know about God, giving the ultimate gift a mother could give her children. Ruby loved to cook and have family gatherings. Ruby always loved Christmas which was her holiday time to shine. She wanted to make lasting joyful Christmas memories of which the family has had many. Family was the most important and what really mattered to her, that her family would continue to fellowship, love one another, and remain together always as was her last wish. Ruby did not have an easy life. She never asked God for a different one. Her prayer was if the burdens she carried could not be lighter but that the Lord would strengthen her and give her broader shoulders. She believed her purpose in life was to love and care for her children and grandchildren and to see them grown. Now that her work is done here on earth she can finally rest, relax those shoulders, and let God take care of her family from here.

Ruby Christine Kinsey

July 4, 1931 - September 3, 2020