Ruby Lowery Wyatt

Ruby Lowery Wyatt of Beams Mill Road, Ellenboro, NC, died Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at Shelby Cleveland Hospital. She was born in Henrietta, NC in 1933, the daughter of Perry Daniel Lowery and Dora Revels Lowery. A native of Rutherford County all her life she was married for 57 years to the late Gerald Franklin Wyatt.

Ruby is survived by her daughters, Deborah Wyatt Funderburk (Brent) of Starkville, MS and Mealie Wyatt Macmurphy (Chuck) of Charlotte, NC.  A son, Rickey Gerald Wyatt, of Ellenboro, passed away in October 2020.  Also surviving are granddaughter Vada Macmurphy of Charlotte, and grandsons, Wyatt Funderburk of Nashville, TN, and Gerald Jackson Funderburk of Austin, TX.  Ruby was the youngest of ten children, being predeceased by brothers Virgil, James, Vernon (killed in combat in WWII), Ray, Joe Dean, and Ralph “Bud”, and sisters Layla Hardin, Vada Seay, and twin sister Ruth Webb.  She also had a half-brother, Claude Lowery.  She is survived by loving nieces and nephews.  A dear and longtime friend, Helen Simpson White, provided Ruby with invaluable help in the past few years.  The family would like to thank the staff of Fairhaven Bostic for their professional and positive care.

Ruby was educated in the Rutherford County Public Schools; Henrietta Elementary School and Tri-High School. She enjoyed playing her piano, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, birdwatching, reading biographies, and tending her flowers. Her greatest joy came in spoiling her grandchildren, whom she affectionately called her “Cooter Bills- # 1, #2 and #3”. She also loved family beach trips and Christmas gatherings.

She was a longtime member of the original Temple Baptist Church in Henrietta, NC, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, assistant treasurer, and Brownie Scout leader.

The family will hold a private service, with interment at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to BASICS Christian Ministries, PO Box 207, Cliffside, NC 28024.