Ruby Ellen McAdoo Smith Coleman

Ruby Ellen McAdoo Smith Coleman, age 77, of Norman, Okla., passed away on November 19, 2024.

She was born August 8, 1947, in Stockton to Stewart Leslie McAdoo and Josie Edna McAdoo (Vanhoutan). She is the seventh of 11 children.

Ruby went to school in Russell her whole life. She went to Fossil Creek School and graduated from Russell High School in 1966. She met Keith Smith in 1965 and married in 1966. They had four daughters. They later divorced. She met and married Donald Coleman and had one daughter in the marriage. They later divorced.

Ruby lived in numerous places: Albert for seven years, Arapahoe, Neb. for 10 years, Otis-Bison area for three years, and Russell from 1984-2011. From Russell, she moved to the Great Bend area for nine years before making her home in Norman, Okla. She enjoyed quilting, bowling, writing poetry, sewing, doing word searches, drawing and painting, playing games on her iPad, coloring, and watching Hallmark movies.

She attended beauty school right after high school. She worked in healthcare for many years, cleaning and driving the city bus for Russell for many years. She worked in convenience stores, a grocery store, and a department store. Her last job was driving people to and from their appointments. She loved being able to help people.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was an active member of several congregations, the longest being the First Southern Baptist Church of Russell. She was also a Girl Scout leader and a member of the women’s auxiliary, Quilts of Valor, and the American Legion.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Alice Zordel and Martha Batman; and her brothers Leslie McAdoo and Stewart McAdoo. 

She is survived by her children: Sherry Fleming and Pamela Smith of Norman, Okla., Regina Jacobs of Hays, Sarah Smith-Orr of Topeka, and  Stacey (Duncan) Holley of Hays; 12 grandchildren: Marcus (Jen), Tricia, Tony Jr., Chyna, Timothy, Afrika, DaShawn, Khalil, Marla, Tamia,  Donatello, Stefan; 12 great-grandchildren: Eric, Darious, Javontae,  Brayleigh, Genesis, Brysen, Maliyah, Tiana, Miles, Monroe, Jude, and Sloane; siblings Josie Doty, Evelyn Monroe, Mary Pollock, Edna Coyle, William McAdoo, and Larry McAdoo; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.