Ruby Jean McCrary Harrell Summers, 90, went to be with her Heavenly Father on May 27, 2021. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at Bright Holland Funeral Home Wednesday, June 2nd at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Donnie Edwards officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Ruby was born October 13, 1930, in Colquitt County, Georgia, to Elbert and Ada McCrary. She lived and went to school in Tift County, Georgia through her high school years, graduating from Tift County High School, where she was an avid basketball player. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and Grammy, and was a blessing to all who crossed her path.
In 1950, she met her loving husband, Cecil, while working at Warner Robbins Air Force Base in Warner Robbins, GA where he was stationed, and were married in 1951. Due to his military service, they relocated to San Antonio, and then Houston, where they resided for 33 years, before moving to Paris in 1997. She retired from NASA Johnson Space Center after 27.5 years, and from Rockwell Space Operations Company after 5 years. In her time at NASA, she witnessed five Space Shuttle launches and also the Apollo 17 launch in person, and had many lifelong friends among the astronaut community.
Ruby was a well-beloved member of East Paris Baptist Church, having been a member since she first moved to Paris in 1997, and a choir member as long as she was able. She also loved to sing with First Baptist Church choir for special occasions, as well as the Red River Valley Old Fashioned Hymn Singers.
She is preceded in death by her parents, 7 brothers and 2 sisters, and her husband of 53 years. She is survived by her children, Sandra Schmidt and husband Dennis of Paris, and Sherri Herron and Robert Huffman of Paris; Steve Summers and wife Stuart of Aurora, TX; and Bruce Summers and wife Freda Blizzard of Houston, TX. Grandchildren are Terri and Danny Webster of Paris; Leighandra and Elijah Rater of Portland, OR; Denise and Aaron Hacker of Edmond, OK; Stephanie and Jason Hughes of Round Rock, TX; Stephen and Jill Summers of Smyrna, TN; and Susan and Ryan Ogden of Decatur, TX.. Great-grandchildren are Whitney Palmer and Lindsey Cox; Nathan Palmer and Adrienne Johns; Aulen and Theodore Rater; Lee, Ben, and Ava Hacker; Caleb, Carter, and Ella Grace Hughes; Ellie Cate, Eden
and Lydia Ogden; Shepherd and Hannah Summers; Garrett and Marian Webster; and Kathryn and Jake Stringfellow. Great-great grandchildren are Teagan and Case Webster, and Judson and Jep Stringfellow.
She is also survived by two sisters, Joyce Hall of Tifton, GA and Mary Lou Lux of Cary, NC; one sister-in-law, Mary Sue McCrary of Waco, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews, and Chester, her beloved cat and furrever friend that stayed by her side in her last days.
The family would like to say a special thank you to Terri Webster, who took such excellent loving care of her the last few years of her life. {{{And a huge thank you to the Summit Hospice crew that took such great care of our mom and Grammy.}}}To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
