Ruby Irene Bentz

Ruby Irene Bentz, age 82, of Gulfport died Tuesday, July 1, 2014 in Gulfport. She grew up in Pass Christian and was a graduate of Pass Christian High School. She was a member of Delisle Baptist Church and was a local business owner. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and she loved flower gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ollie Herrin and Samuel T. Bennett; three brothers, Samuel Bennett, Harris Bennett, and James Bennett; and son-in-law, James “Ron” Sperance. Mrs. Bentz is survived by her husband of 65 years, Raymond Bentz, Sr.; five children, Connie Sperance of Germantown, TN’ Bonnie (Tyler) Harvey of Gulf Shore, AL, Jane (Danny) Boone of Biloxi, Raymond Bentz, Jr. of Gulfport, and Shelly (Granville) Ford of Biloxi; nine grandchildren, James Sperance, Cameron Sperance, Danielle Davis, Daniel Boone, Sara Boone, Olivia Boone, Tabitha Boone, Sally Monahan, Betsy Bryant; and ten great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 12 noon at Delisle Baptist Church where friends may visit beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Old Delisle Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Pink Heart Fund, 5095 Beatline Road, Long Beach, MS 39560. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com