Ruby Bates Pierce

Ruby Bates Pierce September 8, 1916 - November 11, 2016 Ruby Bates Pierce went Home on Friday, November 11, 2016, being 100 years, 9 weeks and 1 day old. Ruby was born on September 8, 1916, the sixth of eight children to John Frances Cordelia (Kirk) Bates and Mary Louanna (Lula) Coble Bates at Beaverdam Creek, Centerville, Tennessee. She met and married the love of her life, Jack Clifford Pierce on October 30, 1932. Four children were blessed to have them as their parents: John Clifford, born September 7, 1933 and passed away on October 22, 1933; Dottie Loretta Pierce Chaffin, born October 27, 1934 and passed away on February 7, 2001; Bettie Sue Pierce Jones, born June 27, 1936; and Carl Franklin Pierce, born on February 16, 1939 and passed away on June 30, 1939. In 1941 the family moved to Detroit, Michigan and in 1958 she and Jack moved to Warren, Michigan. Jack passed away on December 2, 1990. Ruby moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan, in June of 2002, where she made her home for the remainder of her life with Bettie and Earnest Donald Jones. Ruby and Jack both were baptized and added to the Church of Christ in 1939 and worked together for many, many years teaching home Bible studies, teaching Bible classes and helped in many other activities for the Church. Jack served as an elder of the North Warren and Parkview congregations. Ruby made many quilts for her family, friends and for the children's hospital. Dottie and her husband, Oscar Thurrel Chaffin, both deceased, have three children: Clifford; Mark and Barry. Bettie and her husband, Earnest D. Jones, have two children: Cynthia and Donald. Ruby is Grandmother to: Cynthia Jones; Clifford (Debbie) Chaffin; Donald (Dawn) Jones; Mark (Ann) Chaffin and Barry (Mary) Chaffin. Ruby is Great-Grandmother to Erin Jones; Austin (Meghan) Jones; Gordon Chaffin; Neil Chaffin; Rebecca Chaffin; Zachary (Bri); Rachel Chaffin; Emily Chaffin and James Chaffin. Ruby is Great-Great-Grandmother to: Blakley Jones; Hoyt Jones and Mavryck Jones. Ruby is survived by her youngest sister, Mable Taylor of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and was preceded in death by her parents, her three sisters, Irrie Mayberry, Beulah Shepard, Lucy Johnston and three brothers, Emmett, Claude and Ernest Bates. Visitation will be held from 3 PM to 7PM and funeral service at 7 PM on Monday, November 14, 2016, ,at the Milan Church of Christ, 825 Church Street, Milan, Michigan with Bro. Dennis Swindle, Officiating. Burial will take place in Centerville, Tennessee at the Wade-Peeler Cemetery, with Bro. Barry Chaffin, officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to the Milan Church of Christ, 825 Church Street, Milan, Michigan, or to the Shults-Lewis Child and Family Services, P. O. Box 471, Valparaiso, IN 46384. A special thank you from the family to Dennis and Brenda Swindle for all of their loving care, visits and prayers.