Ruby Terry Gautier

Ruby Terry Gautier,97, was born September 3, 1916, on Point Cadet in Biloxi, Mississippi. Educated in Biloxi Schools, she ran track and played basketball on the team that won the Big-Eight Conference championship for four consecutive years achieving All State status. Ruby dropped out of school during the ninth grade for one year to work in a shrimp factory, earning funds to purchase material for dresses and buy shoes so she could continue her education during the depression era. With the encouragement and assistance of Mrs. Mary L. Michele she returned and proudly graduated with the Biloxi High class of 1935. After graduation, she went to work for the newly opened S.H. Kress store for a salary of $9.00 per week. In 1938, a friend and fellow high school basketball team mate introduced Ruby to her brother, Horace Patrick Gautier. They became inseparable, spending their time walking on the beach, swimming and sailing aboard Horace's catboat, "Wimpy." On February 5th, 1938, they were married in the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Ruby became a stay at home mother, raising her two children, and enjoyed taking them swimming, fishing and on family vacations to Florida. After her children were grown, she enrolled in the nurses program at Perkinston Junior College and graduated 2nd in her class. Ruby went to work for Bolton-Middleton clinic as a nurse for Dr. Robert Middleton until her retirement in 1985, although she continued to work part-time until age eighty. She remained very active in the Church of the Redeemer where she was a member of the Daughters of the King, Episcopal Church Women and Birds and Butterflies. Ruby was also a member of the Ann Grayson Chapter-Order of Eastern Star for over fifty years. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of sixty-nine years, Horace Patrick Gautier; her parents, Henry and Mena Terry; brothers, George E. "Bunk" Terry, Chester H. Terry, and Henry A. Terry; sisters, Dorothy Toch, Elvira Higgins and Ruth Walters; and great-granddaughter, Valentine Barthelemy. Ruby is survived by daughter, Terry (Pat)Byrd; son, Joseph Patrick Gautier; sisters, Vivian Rogers, Doris Weems, Mena Koch and Eleanor Chapel; grandchildren, Deborah Jane'(Michael)McGoorty, Katherine(Steve)Everett, Traci Shadoin, Lauren (E.J.)Schultz, Luke (Kati)Gautier, Rachael Gautier, Edee (Chris)Lemonier and Lisa(Jeff)Armstrong; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, Popps Ferry Road on Saturday, May 31, with a viewing from 2:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.. Private burial at Biloxi National Cemetery at a later date. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family request gifts be made to The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 1904 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com