Ruby Hackney

Ruby Shields Hackney, 94, of North Little Rock, passed away Saturday, March 13, 2010. She was born near Lonoke to the late Oliver and Allie Moore Shields, and lived in the area before marrying Edison Hackney in 1936. The couple eventually moved to Memphis where they lived for more than 38 years and where Edison was a driver for Frisco Truck Lines for more than two decades. In 1979, some years after his retirement at age 56, the couple moved back to central Arkansas. Except for working in a U.S. defense plant during World War II, Ruby was a homemaker. She enjoyed refinishing furniture and excelled as a decorator, always maintaining a beautiful home. She was an avid gardener and an artist who devoted much time to her work in ceramics. Ruby also enjoyed cooking; especially desserts, and no family Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering was complete without “Ruby Hackney coconut pies.” Among her most cherished memories were those of family celebrations and times spent with her husband at their lake house near Tunica, Miss. A lifelong Baptist and member of Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ruby often offered this advice to her nieces and nephews and other young people: “Get out and enjoy life. Work hard and save some of your money, yes, but enjoy spending it, too, not just on things you need but also on things that are important to you, those little things you really want.” Ruby is survived by a sister, Mildred Shields Cummings of North Little Rock, and fourteen beloved nieces and nephews: Judy Teeter, Jennifer Harrison, John Cummings, Joe Larkin, Keith Larkin, DeAnn Shields-Marley, Gary Shields, Barbara Smith, Leon McIntyre, Wilma Diffee, Melva Reeves, Jerry McIntyre, Doug McIntyre and Sharon Stevens. Along with her husband, Edison Hackney and her parents, Oliver and Allie Shields, Ruby was predeceased by her sisters, Emma Shields Hill, Blanche Shields McIntyre, Mable Shields Larkin, Garland Louise Shields and brothers, Maurice Moore Shields, Oliver Shields Jr. and Floyde Shields. The family takes this opportunity to express its sincere appreciation to physicians, nurses and other staff at Hospice Home Care of Little Rock for the loving care and comfort they provided to Ruby. Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Care of Little Rock, 2200 Bowman Road, Little Rock, AR 72211 or to Central Baptist Church, 5200 Fairway Ave., North Little Rock, AR 72116. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Brownsville Cemetery near Lonoke where Ruby will rest beside her husband, Edison, who died June 14, 1981. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main, 758-1170. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.

Ruby Hackney

June 13, 1915 - March 13, 2010