Ruby Christie

Ruby (Tracy-Dickey) Christie, 89, well-known and respected lifelong resident of Brown County, Indiana, died early Friday morning, March 22, 2013, at Brown County Health and Living Community. Her final hours were spent with her family by her side. Ruby was born June 19th, 1923, in Bean Blossom, Indiana to James Everett and Blanche (Murphy) Tracy. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert Christie, brothers James Allen and George Maurice Tracy, as well as sisters Olive (Tracy) Voland and Grace (Tracy) Bessire. Ruby was descended from many early Brown County settlers. Her maternal lineage can be traced to the family of William and Elizabeth (Walker) Murphy who resided on their property, where presently stands the Unity Church and Cemetery, before “Brown County” was created from portions of Bartholomew, Monroe and Jackson counties. The Murphy family was enumerated in an 1820 Monroe County census on the aforementioned property which in 1835 became part of the newly formed Brown County, Indiana. Two of her other ancestral families include those of Joshua and Hannah (Coultas) Tracy and Riley and Elizabeth (Jones) Gordon. The Tracys and the Gordons arrived in Brown County in the 1860s. Ruby was a member of the Nashville United Methodist Church since 1955. She was a longtime employee of both the Colonial Restaurant and the Abe Martin Lodge. Her passions and interests included her family, Bingo, auto racing, Indiana University and Pacers basketball, travel, flower gardening and visits to Churchill Downs. Survivors include her son David Michael Dickey (Judy) of Nashville, Indiana, sister Mary (Tracy) Pogue also of Nashville, Indiana, two granddaughters Robin Jackson of Indianapolis and Tracy (Dickey) Sheets (Delmar) of Bedford, twin great-granddaughters Martina and Delaney, and an abundance of nieces and nephews of multiple generations. Visitation will be from 4-8pm on Monday, March 25th, at Bond-Mitchell Funeral Home in Nashville with the funeral service at 11am on Tuesday, March 26th, preceded by one hour visitation and led by Reverend Fred Haywood of Nashville United Methodist Church. Burial will be alongside her husband in Nashville’s Greenlawn Cemetery, resting place of many family members. Ruby was greatly admired and will be missed by everyone whose lives she touched. Contributions may be made to BrightFocus Foundation whose mission is dedicated to Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma and Alzheimer’s awareness, support and research nationwide. Donations may be mailed to Honor/Memorial Gifts, BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, Maryland 20871 or made online at www.brightfocus.org.