The Obit For Ruby A. Martin-Pruitt

Ruby Alyne Martin - Pruitt

Zirana.com 1/23/2009

Ruby Alyne Martin-Pruitt, 99, of McAlester, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at a local nursing home.

Ruby A. Martin-Pruitt was born November 7, 1909 at Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Russell and Cora (Moore) Pope. In 1918, Ruby and her family moved to Oklahoma City. Ruby’s mother and stepfather, Tom Spears started a café near the State Capital. The Café was locally well known for southern style food such as tall biscuits, beans, cornbread and homemade pies. The whole family worked in the café.

While working there, Ruby met the love of her life, Johnnie Martin. They became sweethearts and married on November 9, 1927 in Oklahoma City and moved to Houston, Texas.

John Martin was an up and coming baseball player. In Oklahoma City he grew up playing sand lot baseball. He then played baseball at Guthrie and Ft. Smith, Arkansas. While at Ft. Smith, Johnnie was given the nickname “Pepper.”

Soon after playing with the Houston ball club, Johnnie was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals. He became a nationally known baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals for 12 years. He was known as “Pepper Martin, Wild horse of the Osage.”

After his career at St. Louis, he managed and coached baseball teams across the United States. He was at Rochester, NY, Sacramento, San Diego, Greenville, SC, Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Chicago Cubs, Macon, GA and Des Moines, Iowa. The last few years of his life he coached the Tulsa Oilers club and assisted with the broadcasting of the baseball games.

In 1946, Ruby and Johnnie moved from Oklahoma City to their beloved ranch near Quinton, Oklahoma. Throughout their entire married life together they were constant companions as they raised their family and pursued Johnnies baseball career. Johnnie “Pepper” Martin died in 1965.

Ruby had many interests. She and Johnnie were active in the First Baptist Church at Quinton and Blocker. They helped start Blocker Baptist Church. Ruby was a Sunday school teacher for most of her adult life. Ruby later married O.A. Pruitt and after his death, she lived in McAlester for the remainder of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny “Pepper” Martin, mother, Cora (Moore) Pope Spears, father, Russell Pope, 2 brothers, Olin and Preston Pope, 2 sisters, Gladys Pope and Lucille Copeland, granddaughter, Denise Pearce and great-granddaughter, Lauren Nicole Foor.

Survivors include 3 Daughters and Sons-in-law: Alyne and Allen Cherry of Denton, TX, Jenny and Charles Weathersby of Quinton, OK, and Alice and Burl Eakle of Krebs, OK; 8 Grandchildren and Spouses: Sally and Gary Brown of Aubrey, TX, Ginger and Larry Tucker of Royce City, TX, Gina and John Fraley of Corsicana, TX, Zachary Weathersby of Abilene, TX, Jan and Ben Baley of Hico, TX, Matthew and Lynn Weathersby of Azel, TX, Patrick and Teresa Foor of Oklahoma City, OK, and Cora Akin of Reno, NV; Great-Grandchildren: Shayne Pearce, Sara Brown, Troy Tucker, Zachary Weathersby, Daniel Martin Weathersby, Geoffrey Weathersby, Blayne and Courtney Baley, Samuel Martin Weathersby, Nathan Thomas Weathersby, Ashlie Nicole Foor, John Erich Foor, Kyle Martin Foor, Katlyn Marie Foor, John Patrick Akin and Charles Blake Akin; 2 Nieces: Ann Perry of Tulsa, OK, and Betty Sue and David Springer of Oklahoma City, OK, and 2 Great-Nephews: Chad Perry and Scott PerryFamily will greet friends on Sunday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home, McAlester.Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2009, atFirst Baptist Church, McAlester with Rev Ken Gassaway and Rev. Eddie Dye. Burial will be at Quinton City Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brumley-Mills Funeral Home of McAlester.Pallbearers will be Spec Little, Dub Brown, J.A. Allford, Glen Stone and W.C. Wallace.