Ruby Zorn

Ruby Lois Zorn died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday morning, November 7, 2010 at her home at Seguin Assisted Living. Ruby was born March 19, 1913 in Bangs, Texas, the next to last of ten children born to Walter W. and Carrie Belle Gaines Layman. She often shared memories of her childhood and what it was like growing up in the early part of the Twentieth Century with nine other siblings. Ruby especially found pleasure during the latter years of her life enjoying the company of her sister Lucille L. Carter and her brother F. Gaines Layman who, along with all of her other siblings, preceded her in death. Ruby did not understand why God allowed her to spend over 97 years on this earth, but she lived and enjoyed every minute of it and on occasion even bragged about living to be more than “a hundred.” Despite her declining health, she often laughed so hard we all thought she might choke. Ruby delighted her nephews, her great nieces and great nephews by telling stories about the “wild side” of her younger years.

A mutual friend brought Ruby and the love of her life together and on March 15, 1969 she was married to Joseph A. Zorn and together they enjoyed the happiest of times after retiring and making their home in Seguin, Texas. He preceded her in death on July 18, 1990. Although Joe passed on to heaven more than 20 years ago, hardly a day went by without Ruby mentioning his name or remembering many of the great times they shared during their 21 years together.

Ruby and Joe had a special interest in young people and it was with great pride in 2002 that Ruby established the Joseph A. and Ruby L. Zorn Endowment Fund at Texas Lutheran University. She especially enjoyed meeting and visiting with the scholarship recipients and learning about their future plans.

Ruby was an avid San Antonio Spurs fan and spent many a late night at Seguin Assisted Living watching and rooting for her Spurs. She always made sure to invite other Spur fans to watch the games with her. A sure way to get a conversation going with Ruby was to ask her about her favorite Spurs, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

As one of the first residents of Seguin Assisted Living, Ruby was always thankful for the wonderful, loving care provided to her and so many of her fellow residents by the Taylor family. Our family is especially thankful to the Taylors and all of the members of their incredibly caring staff. During her years at Seguin Assisted Living, our Aunt Ruby was always treated with the utmost kindness and gentleness. Aunt Ruby had many special friends in Seguin but we especially want to thank Ruth Andrus for being such a wonderful friend.

We would also like to thank all of our Aunt’s caregivers. Ethel and Dorothy Luckey became like family to Aunt Ruby and the care they provided to her over the past five years of her life has been unbelievable. Dorothy and Ethel, thanks to each of you for making sure our Aunt always looked her best. I know you ladies each added years of quality to Ruby’s life and thank you for including her in the activities of your family - she so enjoyed spending special holidays and other times with your family. Thanks also to Regina, Carol, Nell, and a number of others over the years, who, despite our Aunt Ruby’s declining health, were always just a step away, helping to make the final chapter of her life complete and her final days as comfortable as possible. We also wish to thank Diana and numerous others at Guadalupe Regional Hospice for their loving care during Ruby’s final years.

Ruby is survived by her nephews Lanny Layman and his wife Joni and Steve Layman and his wife Kacie of San Angelo. Also surviving are two great nieces, Erin Layman of San Antonio and Haley Layman of Waco, and two great nephews, Jordan and Jacob Layman of San Angelo. Additionally she is survived by a great nephew Bill Ruhmann and his wife Linda of San Antonio and their daughter Becky Willmon and her two sons of Austin. Ruby we will all miss you! Thanks for being such a wonderful aunt, mentor, and friend.

Funeral arrangements will be provided by Goetz Funeral Home. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday November 13th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Graveside services will be directed by Harold Sager at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park beginning at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Joseph A. and Ruby L. Zorn Endowment Fund at Texas Lutheran University.

Safely Home

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still:

Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,

Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth -

You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh the joy to see you come!