Mina Ruth Hayes Ripley

Ruth was born February 25, 1926 in Chucky, TN a daughter of the late Jesse Patrick and Lou Ella Smith Hayes. Ruth went to work for the FBI as a fingerprint analyst during WWII and worked there until her high school sweetheart and future husband returned from the war.

She was married to Kyle Ripley for almost 64 years. He preceded her in death in 2011. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, and one sister.

Surviving are her daughters, Linda (and husband, Nick) Jeffreys and Pamela (and husband, Jim) Bryant; grandchildren, Jennifer (and husband, Van) Jurney, Nicholas Jeffreys Jr., Christopher Kyle (and wife, Sheri) Bryant, Rebecca Ripley Bryant; step granddaughters, Edie Jeffreys and Jennifer Jeffreys-Chen; great grandchildren, Peyton Grace Jurney, William Ripley Jurney, and Kendall Renee Bryant; and her beloved brother, John Hayes.

Ruth was happiest traveling with her husband, Kyle and spending time with her girls. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery 5901 Lyons View Pike Knoxville, TN on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. Private burial will follow the service. Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary and Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home in Knoxville are assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the Ripley family at www.brownwynnecary.com.

A special thanks to the excellent staff at Woodland Terrace and her good friend Brenda Mullins.

Flowers are welcomed, memorials may be made to Transitions LifeCare or the Alzheimer’s Associatoin.