Ruby E. McDonald Coats

IOWA PARK – Ruby Coats, age 87, passed from this life on Thursday, January 6, 2011 to join her Heavenly Father, and family that waits for her. She passed away at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Iowa Park where she had resided for the past 7 years, since the death of her husband, in 2003. She was formerly of Electra for many years. Ruby was born May 20, 1923 in Bixby, Oklahoma to Martin L and Bessie Schuessler McDonald.

Mother was one of the first weather watchers for Channel 3 and gauged the rain and snow for the National Geological Survey out of Norman, Oklahoma. She also gardened and farmed. Most of all she will be remembered as the first lady to drive a school bus in Electra by her many students, some of whom she had from kindergarten through their graduation. She started driving her car for 3 students and then later the school district combined bus routes and gave her a big yellow school bus to drive.

She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother not only to her immediate family but to those who became like her own family which she was so generous to. Her heart was as big as Texas and her smile matched. She lived the life of a Christian and it showed in every way, every day.

She married the love of her life, Kit B. Coats, Jr. on February 9, 1940 in Mounds, Oklahoma.

She is survived by one son, Dan Coats and wife, Louise of Electra, one daughter, Linda White and husband, Ron of Iowa Park; 7 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; one sister, Mary Ellen Evans of Dennison, Texas and one brother, Alvin McDonald of Mounds, Oklahoma; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her husband, one son, Marty Coats, a granddaughter, Tina Coats and great grandson, Sheldon Slade Strange, one sister and a brother preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, January 10, 2011 at Hillside Baptist Church of Electra, Texas with Rev. David Odom and Rev. Bob Webb officiating. Burial will be in New Electra Cemetery under the direction of Dutton Funeral Home of Iowa Park, Texas.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, January 9, 2011 at Dutton Funeral Home Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Wichita Falls or Hillside Baptist Church of Electra, Texas.