Boots, Ruby

Ruby Boots, 86, of Scotch Grove, died Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be held 10:30 Tuesday morning, Jan. 12, at the United Church of Monticello, with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery. The Rev. Edwin Moreano will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4 until 8 today at Goettsch Funeral Home. 

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com

Surviving are her husband, Norman; six children, Dennis Williams and special friend Julia Moffit, Shellsburg, Darlene (Bud) Langhoff, Marion, Larry Williams, Monticello, Shirley (Mark) Snell, Marion, Gary (Jann) Williams, Hot Springs, Ark., and Randy Boots, Fort Worth, Texas; 17 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Arlene Hall; and three grandchildren.

Ruby Berniece Christner was born Jan. 24, 1923, at Packwood, Iowa. She was the daughter of Amos and Mollie Farmer Christner. She attended the rural schools near her home and later the Albia High School. Ruby worked at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids and also was a waitress at the Armar and Danceland ballrooms. Ruby married Norman Boots on March 29, 1959, at the Methodist Church in Marion. The couple lived in Hopkinton, where she operated Ruby's Café. They later lived in Branson, Mo., Cedar Rapids, Monticello and Scotch Grove. Ruby was known as a caregiver - she worked in the cardiac care department of the Branson Hospital, in Cedar Rapids she drove the Special Needs school bus, in Monticello she worked at Johnson Nursing Home and cared for many people in their own homes. She also helped Norman run Boots Shoe Repair in Monticello before she retired.

The family would like to thank everyone at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Above and Beyond Hospice for all the kindness and care given to Ruby and her family.