SMITH, Ruby Lea

SMITH, ONEAL, LEAHY

Posted By: Conni McDaniel Hall (email)
Date: 2/14/2024 at 16:44:13

Ruby Lea Smith, age 90, of Leon, Iowa, the daughter of Ray O’Neal and Delia Ellen (Leahy) Hill, was born June 27, 1933, at High Point, Iowa in Decatur County. She left this life on Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa.

Ruby and her family lived on farms throughout Decatur County. When she was eight years old, they settled at Garden Grove. She attended Liberty School near Lineville before going to school in Garden Grove where she played high school girls basketball and played the bass drum in the band.

On July 25, 1950, Robert William Smith, who was stationed at Atlanta General Depot in Georgia, went AWOL on a weekend pass, drove to Garden Grove and married Ruby in the Leon Presbyterian Church on July 26. They pulled a little 25 foot trailer behind the car and returned to Georgia the next day. The little trailer was their first home. When Bob was discharged, they pulled the tiny home back to Decatur County. In 1953, they bought the Tinsley Hatchery on the northeast corner of the square in Leon and named it Smith Feeder Supply. As the business grew, they moved to the bottom of Depot Hill, south of the train depot. They later moved the business to its current location north of Leon. In 2023, Smith Feeder Supply celebrated it’s 70th year in operation.

Ruby and Bob were blessed with seven children, Sheryl, Mark, Cindy, Charlene, Scott, Dan, and Jason. In the mid 1960’s the family moved from Garden Grove to Leon, Iowa.

Ruby was always patriotic and had an interest in history, especially local history. She was a member of the Garden Grove American Legion Auxiliary for 73 years. She worked tirelessly on the Leon Bicentennial Committee in 1976. Also, she was a member of Garden Grove PEO, and Calvary Baptist Church, accepting Christ as her savior in the early 1980s.

Ruby bought the very first animal sold at the Decatur County Fair Auction in the 1950’s and continued that practice for all the years that followed. She was named Decatur County Cattleman of the Year in 2022 and Citizen of the Year by the Leon Chamber of Commerce in 2023.

Ruby and Bob were defined by work although they enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards with friends, and attending movies in Des Moines. They especially enjoyed Sunday drives through the country, checking fences, calves, and crops.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Bob in 2019; daughter, Sherry Martin in 2020; grandson, Justin Smith; siblings and their spouses, Glendoris & Bill Moreland, Ramona & Marion “Babe” Niday, Gil Ruiz, Junior Hill, and Paul & Dorothy Hill. Survivors include Dennis Martin of Garden Grove, Mark & Jodi Smith of Leon, Cindy Smith & Stan Moeller of Hull, Iowa, Charlene & David Hoover of Leon, Scott Smith of West Des Moines, Dan & Melissa Smith of Leon, and Jason & Sandee Smith of Van Wert, Iowa; grandchildren, Tony Veach & Rachel Klingston, Sadie & T.J. Wertz, Bailey & Tanner Schuldt, Matt & Cindy Moeller, Cassie & Josh Alley, Sydney Smith, Branton & Ellie Smith, Samuel Smith, Grant Smith, Gavin Smith, Hunter & Maddy Smith, Chandler & Maggie Smith, Gunnar Smith, and Soiyer Smith; thirteen great grandchildren; three great, great grandchildren; niece Deena Edelstein, sister Audrey Ruiz, sister-in-law Naomi Hill, other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at the Living Hope Church in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2024, with Pastor Jeremy Quigley officiating. Burial will be in the Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa. Arrangements were through the Slade - O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon.

A memorial fund has been established by the Family.