Ruby Jewel Gorkis |
| Posted 2017-04-26 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, April 20, 2017, page 5a Ruby Jewel Gorkis, 82, passed away April 17, 2017, in Chino Valley, Arizona. Memorial Service, May 6, 2017, 10 a.m., Word of Life Assembly, Chino Valley. Arrangements by Chino Valley Funeral Home. ----------------------------------- The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, May 3, 2017, page 6a Sadly, after a long and courageous struggle with progressive supra-nuclear palsy, those amazing blue eyes of Ruby Jewell Gorkis closed a final time on April 17, 2017, at 1:02 p.m. and she passed into the arms of her Savior waiting on the porch of heaven to welcome her home. Ruby was 82 years old and resided at New Horizons Adult Care Home in Chino Valley, Arizona. Hensley and Edith Akers Childers welcomed their first child, Ruby Jewell, born with the bluest of eyes on April 9, 1935, in Manco, Kentucky. Ruby was later joined by sisters Mae, Betty and Susan as well as brother Paul. The family moved to Pound, Virginia, and it was there Ruby married James Mulkey in 1951. In 1952 she was delighted to give birth to a daughter she named Deborah Lyn. Two years later she happily welcomed a son she named Johnnie Lee. Times were hard and Ruby and James divorced in 1957. Tearfully leaving her children with their grandparents, Ruby moved to California to find work to support herself and her two children. In 1962 she married Ray Price; there were no children and the marriage ended in divorce in 1973. In California, Ruby attended a one-year course in cosmetology and then passed a difficult examination to become a registered cosmetologist. Ruby attended Antelope Valley College for 180 hours of theory and clinical work and again passed a difficult examination to become a certified nursing assistant. She also attended a six-month course in general electronics and then received an additional 60 hours of education in electronic assembly. During those early years in California, Ruby, always a hard worker, found work in multiple aircraft companies doing electronic assembly on airplanes. She worked on the B-1B program at Rockwell International and received several certificates of recognition for demonstrating personal responsibility in her daily efforts. Ruby often had three jobs, taking any shift available at local hospitals, working part time at a beauty salon and keeping up with electronic assembly when work was available at the various aircraft companies. Frank Gorkis, an employee at nearby Lockheed Martin Corporation, also working on aircraft assembly, fell in love at first sight with the blue-eyed beauty when meeting Ruby for the first time. Her marriage to Frank lasted 41 years, until his death in 2015. Ruby had a very close relationship with her sister Susan writing letters and sending cards. Susan’s daughter Rebecca Federici also remained close to her Aunt Ruby calling her regularly and sending cards. Ruby was a wonderful cook and baker and was known for her expertise in the kitchen. She was generous in bringing pies, cakes, banana breads and other goodies to people she liked (which was everyone) and she developed a reputation for her excellent abilities in the kitchen. Ruby is survived by her children Deborah Mulkey Hughes, Johnnie Mulkey (Debbie); granddaughters Stacey Boone (Kevin), Kelli Lewis (Charlie), Brandi Young; and grandson Jeremy Mulkey (Carley); as well as numerous great-granddaughters, great-grandsons and a great-great-granddaughter and great-great-grandson. Also surviving are Linda and Andrew Gorkis, Ruby’s sister-in-law and brother-in-law who cared for her the last two years of her life. Preceding Ruby in death were all of her younger siblings, husband Frank; grandson James Lee; great-great-granddaughter Henli; and great-great-grandson Kiel. A remembrance of Ruby’s life will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at the Chino Valley Word of Life Assembly of God Church, 590 W. Road 1 North, Chino Valley. All are invited to stay for a luncheon following the service. Arrangements were entrusted to Chino Valley Funeral Home. Information provided by survivors. |
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