Ruby Annis Monroe

Ruby Monroe was born April 26, 1919 in Copeland, Arkansas to Rev. William and Ellen Cunningham. She was married in 1936 to Oran Harris; they lived in Eufaula Oklahoma where their first four children were born. In 1946, Ruby and Oran moved to Bakersfield CA where two more children were born. Ruby was predeceased by her first husband Oran in 1983. She remarried to Wilson Monroe who predeceased her in 1987. She also was predeceased by her parents, siblings, and her son Mel, special daughter-in-law Melba Harris, son-in-law Al Toler, and granddaughter Amanda Harris.

Ruby is survived by two sons, Leon Harris, Bakersfield and Curtis Harris (Wanda) of Boca Raton Florida; three daughters, Ruth Toler, Salem Oregon, Elaine Haggard (Jim), Bakersfield, Faye Weller (John), Bakersfield; step children Judy and Buzz Monroe, Las Vegas NV; and 15 Grand children, 24 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.

Our mother was a song writer. She wrote and published a song during WWII, A Soldier's Dream, that has a copy-write in the Library of Congress. She was a crafter and her children all have ceramics, pillowcases, scarves and other gift items made by her. She loved gardening and was always growing veggies and fruits and flowers....a talent she acquired from her father. Ruby loved adventure and she loved camping and fishing. Many family camping trips were taken with her children and their friends. She was also a snake killer. Just a few years ago she killed one in her yard...it was taller than she was. Ruby loved birds and had plenty of parakeets. She was a walker, hiker, and climber and she climbed Half Dome in Yosemite when she was in her early 40's. She kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, slept in a castle, traveled to Thailand, South Korea, England, Ireland, Mexico and many other places.

Ruby was very patriotic and was a 33-year member of the Bakersfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. Her adventurous spirit will live on in those she left behind.

Viewing will be held Thursday, June 30th from 4:00pm-8:00pm. Graveside service will be held Friday, July 1st at 10:00am at Hillcrest Memorial Park.