Ruby Olene Hall, 99, flew away on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 while in her garden picking strawberries, the same morning she had pitted cherries for a homemade pie she left cooling on the kitchen counter.

She was born on January 27, 1914 to Fred and Augusta (Koeppe) Hageman in the brick farm house her grandparents had built from the clay in the river behind the house on the family farm near Bryan. Ruby lived her whole life in Defiance Co., and was the last of 3 children. After early years of walking to school, she then began driving herself and her older sister to the Ney School. But when help was needed at home she left school and took up odd jobs before meeting Forest Hall. "Hallie" courted her in his dad's Buick, attending local dances, and the two were married in the parsonage at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Defiance on June 12, 1934 where they remained active members for the next 60 years.

She and Hallie had a daughter – Janice Kay – born in 1948. Later, Ruby worked in the cafeteria at Spencer Elementary School in Defiance, serving lunches to hungry students. Upon Hallie's retirement, they built a home beside Janice on her family farm where she perfected the arts of gardening, canning, baking and doing puzzles with her grandchildren. A highlight of her life was celebrating their 50 ^th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii. She shared many more happy memories with Hallie, until he passed on August 25, 2008.

She became a family legend for her homemade noodles and pies, and will be remembered and missed for so many things.... her quickness to smile, her unique laugh, her ability to make all those "big" things seem small. We'll see you and Grandpa over the rainbow – have a pie and a smile ready for us, Grandma!

Surviving are her daughter, Janice (Denny) Caryer of Bryan; grandson Cory (Julie) Baden of Defiance; granddaughter Amy (Ryan) Horner of Bozeman, MT; and five great-granddaughters, as well as step-grandchildren. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a brother, Jay Hageman, and a sister, Gladys Wolf.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2 in St. Paul's United Methodist Church, with viewing from 10-11 a.m. Visitation will also be from 2-8 p.m. Monday, July 1 at Schaffer Funeral Home, Defiance.

Preferred memorials are to St. Paul's United Methodist Church or to donor's choice.