Ruby Jane Chandler

Ruby was born November 4, 1913 at Clarkridge, Arkansas to Clifton and Maude Cowart. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Everett Chandler, daughter Verlene Camp, sister Roxie Crawford and a brother Rudolph Cowart.

She is survived by a brother, Roscoe Cowart of Clarkridge, 3 daughters Essie Stone, Dorothy Hieronymus and Ceilie Messick, all living in Baxter County. Also 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren and a very large number of related family members and friends throughout the area.

Graveside services will be at the Thacker Cemetery (Clarkridge) on Saturday, October 11, at 2:00 PM. The Thacker Cemetery is close to the location on which she was born and is lands donated for cemetery purposes by both her maternal grandfather (Thacker) and father (Cowart).

Ruby has been a lifelong resident of Clarkridge. She found both her livelihood and satisfaction centered around the farm where she and her husband lived the entirety of their marriage.
During early years of marriage, providing for the family primarily came from raising cotton on the ridge and creek bottom land they owned. However, when the Norfork Lake project covered their bottom land, they had to supplement with other work. As a result for several years she and her husband, Everett Chandler, worked on the game and fish refuge lands just east of their homeplace. They accepted work taking care of baby turkey’s in the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s effort to re-establish wild turkeys in the State of Arkansas. The project turned out very successful with there now being an abundance of wild turkey throughout the State. They did everything from trapping to keep predator’s out of the turkey pens, the daily feeding, watering and medicating until removed for release. Likewise, they also worked on the holding ponds for the introduction of new types of fish into the Norfork Lake. With the lake being filled, it was only a short walk through the field and woods to the edge of the Blue Wing Cove of the lake. A slow walk down a well worn path, seated on a big rock with a simple fishing pole and a can of redworms, brought home more fish in a “gunny sack” than most today who feel the need for expensive fishing gear and high powered boats.

Ruby provided an inviting environment to those who visited her home. Her flower gardens, rock collections, well worn domino table, horse shoe pit, breakfast cooked on the wood stove, carrying water from the spring, and the real stories of the people and events of the past have provided lasting memories for many.

In her 100+ years she has lived the days of a small log house, wild hogs, spring water, household lanterns, wood cookstove, one room school houses, two World Wars, the great depression and hard work for survival. A good work ethic was not just needed, it had to be for family survival.
For family and friends, she has left a great legacy of a woman who had a strong will, tremendous work ethic, faithful companion, love for family, time for grandkids to experience bank fishing, squirrel hunting, horseshoes, dominoes and watermelons! The five generation family has been blessed by such a mother and GRAND-mother!

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.