Ruby Jean Kidd of Cross Lanes passed away on Thursday, September 4, 2014 following a long illness.

Ruby was born on January 2, 1937 in Kanawha County, the daughter of Arnold and Frances Saunders. Ruby was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Cecil Kidd. Also preceding her in death were her parents; sisters Carmalee Saunders and Frieda Crede; sisters-in-law Pauline Allen, Betty Dodd, Drema Moore and Helen Reed; and brothers-in-law James Shamblin, Clayton Birchfield and Chuck Hill.

She is survived and sadly missed by her children and their spouses Terri and Mark McCormick of Cross Lanes, Doris "DJ" and Jerome Tarnowski of Chicago, Illinois, and Michael and Lisa Kidd of Hurricane. Mark and Terri's children are Whitney, Daniel, Abigail, Elijah, Josiah and Malachi. Doris and Jer's daughter and son-in-law are Summer and Cameron Layne. Mike and Lisa's sons are Aaron and Andrew, and soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Kathryn Szepelak. Ruby loved her great- grandchildren Brodie Tyler, and Brooklyn and Braelyn Roberts.

Ruby is also survived by beloved sister Leona Birchfield, of Craigsville, who lived with and faithfully cared for Ruby for two years at the family's time of greatest need. Aunt Leona, we love you and forever owe you a debt of deepest gratitude.

Ruby is also survived by dearly loved sister and brother-in-law Rebecca and Ted Carter, of Charleston, and dearly loved brothers and wives, Richard "Bud" and Shirley Saunders of Englewood, Colorado and Walt and Karen Saunders of Kerrville, Texas. She is also survived by loved sister- and brothers-in law Goldie Shamblin, Tom Allen, and Jim Reed. She loved her many nieces and nephews.

Ruby was a homemaker and member of Rock Branch Independent Church, where she was a faithful member of the church choir, Ladies Aid and the rummage workers. She was a long-time member and officer of the Cross Lanes TOPS club.

The following is a tribute from her children.

Mom loved her God, her sweetheart Cecil, and her family and friends. She was a woman of great compassion and high moral standards who modeled for her family a sense of right and wrong, balanced with a heart of gold. She had a strong work ethic and taught us that children are expected to work hard and share the fruits of that labor with God and fellow man.

In the 50's, Mom met Dad at an Elk River "baptizin". Dad noticed her dark hair and rosy cheeks and realized she needed an umbrella because it had started raining. And so it began. Dad would often sit with his arm around Mom during church. Frequently during conversations with others, he would squeeze her hand and declare "I love that woman!"

Mom was a born-again Christian and was not ashamed to say so. Her and Dad's well-worn Bibles full of notes show clear evidence of the daily Bible reading and prayer that marked their early mornings. Mom was not a Christian in name only. She was a true living witness of God's grace and mercy. She demonstrated His love in manifold ways with acts of kindness and charity. Mom's crowning achievements are not the stuff of career or front-page accomplishments. Rather, they are countless humble acts of giving, lending a hand, visiting the sick and hurting. Mom lived her Christianity.

Mom loved red, springtime, and singing four-part harmony. In her younger years, she sang in an a cappella family trio with her father and sister, Rebecca.

Mom, all of us will miss you deeply, but we know that you are Home.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. II Timothy 2: 7, 8.

The family respectfully requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Union Mission Ministries, P.O. Box 112, Charleston, WV 25321 or HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. West, Charleston, WV 25387.

The family would like to thank Mom's various "sisters in Christ" who sat with her and continued to involve her in church activities, even after she became ill. We also wish to thank Pastor Delbert Hawley and his wife Anna, who continued to visit and minister to Mom to the end.

The family expresses its deepest gratitude for the excellent and loving care provided the last two years by Kerri Savilla and her staff at Shining Starr Assisted Living in Hurricane.

Services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 6, with visitation starting at 11 a.m. until service time, at Rock Branch Independent Church, 133 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, with Pastor Delbert Hawley and Pastor Ray Parsons officiating. Burial will follow in Ortin Heights Cemetery, Nitro.

Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.