Ruby Deane Johnston, 87, of Agency, died at 11:30 a.m. March 3, 2025 at Ridgewood Specialty Care.
She was born May 18, 1937 in Ottumwa to Mike and Faye Skinner Monohon. Ruby married Lloyd Dean Johnston on August 13, 1954 and he preceded her in death on August 10, 2019.
She had attended Ottumwa High School. Ruby had worked at Honts Grocery Store in Winfield, Cal’s Jack & Jill in Ottumwa, had sorted corn at Pioneer and had worked as a CNA at Corning Care Center in Corning, IA and a CNA and activity director at Ridgewood in Ottumwa.
Ruby was a member of Soap Creek Rebels and Ottumwa Saddle Club and was an amazing barrel racer. She loved teaching Sunday School at Winfield Methodist Church, was a Girl Scouts leader and a member of Good Times Club. Ruby also loved horses, dogs, chocolate, tomatoes, her favorite color blue, painting, playing cards, square dancing and collecting Longaberger baskets.
Surviving are her children, Diana Long of Ottumwa, Karla (Ted) Hoover of Dalhart, TX, Randy (Teresa) Johnston of Bloomfield and Jeff (Tammy) Johnston of Blakesburg; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Steve Hunter of Colorado and a sister, Jeannie Morrison of Monmouth, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents and Chester Hunter who was like a father to her, a great-grandson, Keenan Rockhold and a brother, Doug Hunter.
Visitation will be open at 12 p.m. Thursday, March 6th at Reece Funeral Home with the family present to greet friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 7th at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Kelly W. Peavey officiating. Burial will be in Shaul Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the family for the purchase of a memorial bench that will be placed in Agency City Park.
