Ruby Jean (Perkins) Knight

She was born on November 17, 1921 to Arnie Olen and Eva Ethel Boydstun Perkins; and along with her siblings, Olen Woodrow and Ola Mae, grew up in the Tate Springs community, or as it is known locally, Tater Hill.

Ruby grew up helping work her dad’s farm and learning to sew, cook, and play the organ from her mother. She might have been a bit strong-willed. At the age of 9, she began going to Mission Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church against her father’s wishes, and later gave her life to Christ at the age of 12.

She remained a member there for 91 years, faithfully serving her Lord as church pianist, Sunday School teacher, and anything else she was asked or volunteered to do. She married Hulon Albert Knight, and they remained married until his death in 1998. She was the epitome of a good wife and mother. She served three home cooked meals a day, sewed all her children’s clothes, planted and tended gardens, canned the results to have food for the coming year, and kept a clean house. Wherever she lived, she always kept her yard and always had beautiful flowers. Making flower arrangements was one of her special gifts.

When it became necessary for her to work outside the home, she selflessly took a job at M.E. Moses and worked there for 35 years, first as clerk, then cashier, and was later given duties in the office. She was a loyal and hardworking employee.

While her faith was first with her, she dearly loved her family, and there was never a holiday or any special time that she didn’t bring family together. Until aging kept her from it, she attended every birth, birthday party, graduation, wedding, funeral, etc. Getting older was no fun, but she persevered, suffering through a fractured pelvis, falls (one of which left a huge knot on her forehead), broken elbow, pancreatitis, and kidney failure among other things. She bounced back from each one until the last pneumonia.

Throughout her life, she met each challenge, never complaining, always getting done what needed to be done regardless of the toll it took on her. Even though it was hard for the independent person she was, she allowed her children to help her in her later years when tasks that usually were so easy became hard to do. She voluntarily gave up driving when she knew she might endanger others. She struggled not to be a burden and always tried to do as much as her failing body could do to help her children help her. She was always quick to say Thank You for even the smallest help. She was a truly remarkable, loving Christian woman who loved her Lord, her family and her friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Olen and Eva Perkins, husband Hulon Knight, brother Woodrow Perkins and wife Catherine, son-in-law Weldon Lotspeich, and daughter-in-law Zuma Knight.

She leaves behind loved ones to celebrate her life and cherish her memory, sister Ola Mae Tarpley, son Hulon W. Knight, daughters Shirley Lotspeich, Barbara Harrell, Claudia Cochran, sons-in-law Richard E. Harrell, and J. Stephen Cochran. Grandchildren: Steve Lotspeich (Michelle), Philip Lotspeich (Linda), Jeff Harrell (Danyl), Rodney Harrell (Tammy), Ed Harrell (Tina), Kevin Cochran (Karen), and Deidre Morgan, and Leesa Green (Greg), 21 Great Grandchildren, 17 Great Great Grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the building fund at St. John Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 6007 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. , Arlington, Texas 76016 or to a charity of your choice.