March 8, 1923 –  March 9, 2012 McCarley, Ruby Jean

Ruby Jean McCarley passed away Friday morning, March 9, 2012 surrounded by her family. She was born on March 8, 1923 in Hickory Creek, Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents; Jessie Blankenship Browne and Clifton R. Browne of Hickory Creek, her husband of 34 years, E.J. McCarley of Leonard, and her brother, R.W. Browne and sister-in-law, Willena West Browne.

Ruby Jean is survived in death by her daughter, Dianne McCarley Smith and son-in-law, Barry C. Smith of Dallas, her granddaughter, Rebecca Ross Morningstar of Arlington, her nieces Gloria Browne Floyd and family of Rotan, TX and Bonnie Browne McKeller and family of Midland, TX.

Ruby Jean attended the Hickory Creek School during her elementary years. She graduated from Bailey High School where she was voted “Best All Round Girl”. Since she was so young when she graduated, she spent an extra year at Celeste High School to sharpen her secretarial skills.

Ruby Jean married E. J. McCarley of Leonard in 1941 and became a mother to Dianne in 1944. She lived in Dallas and Arlington, TX for many years where she worked at LTV Aerospace Corporation. During her thirty years with the company, she worked both in the Aerospace Engineering Department, and during the 1960s worked in the Flight Simulation Department directly with the original seven astronauts. After retirement in 1981, she continued to live in Arlington and then moved back to Dallas in 2008.

For those that may not have known Ruby Jean, they may have known her brother, R.W. Browne, who learned to fly in the Hickory Creek area during the 1930’s and trained British pilots in Terrell, TX for the military service in World War II.

Ruby Jean, as mother, grandmother, aunt and friend will be greatly missed, but all should be comforted by the fact she loved them and is at rest after several years of poor health.

She will be laid to rest at a graveside service in Wolfe City, TX on Friday, March 16, 2012. Friends and family will gather at the Owens Funeral Home at 200 S. Santa Fe St. at 11:00 am. For more information, please contact Owens Funeral Home in Wolfe City at (903) 496-2331. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Make a Wish Foundation.