Vanessa Ruiz

Vanessa, age 48, of Wiggins was called home Saturday, December 14, 2013, after a short but hard fought battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her mother, children and closest friends. She was a lifelong resident of Mississippi, a beautiful, long legged, classy true southern Mississippi woman who loved her children, mother, and father, cooking for the family, the water, the mountains, traveling, fast cars, big trucks, motor cycles, boots, and heels. But most of all being a “Great” mother to her kids, a ”GiGi” to her grand kids, and a “Great” friend to many. She will be LOVED for eternity. She was preceded in death by her father, James “Smitty” Smith; a brother, John Maulden; and sister, Donna Rivera. She is survived by her daughter, Lydia Ruiz (Raven Whitney Lynd); sons, Gabriel Ruiz (Erin), Samuel Ruiz (Lauren Jordan), and Titus Ruiz; her mother, Jessie Marie Smith; the love of her life, Jeff Arnold, Jr. and five grandchildren, Jayla, Eli, Abram, Maybree, and Leo. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 12 noon at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 720 E Beach Blvd, Long Beach where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Coalville Cemetery, Biloxi. The pallbearers will be Gabriel Ruiz, Samuel Ruiz, Titus Ruiz, Jeff Arnold, Jamie Graham, Darrel Saucier, Mark Harshbarger, Eric Nobles and honorary pallbearers Jason Viebrock, Jay Knowles, and Chase Sherman. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.