Ruby May Mills
MILLS, Ruby May It is with sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Ruby May Mills, age 105, on Saturday September 7th, 2019 in the comfort of her own home in Joggins, Nova Scotia. Born in Maccan, Nova Scotia, she was the daughter of the late James and Lulu (Ells) Miller. She attended school in Maccan and later in Joggins, Nova Scotia. Ruby married Arnold Gardner Mills of Ragged Reef, NS on April 22, 1929 in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Ruby and Arnold moved to Halifax, NS after their marriage where Arnold worked for National Sea Products. They returned to Ragged Reef where they were true homesteaders and together built their home - cutting the trees and finishing them to build the house where they lived most of their married life. Ruby was a homemaker, her passion was collecting recipes, baking, preserving and preparing delicious meals. Other pastimes included knitting, working in her flower gardens, her bird houses, fishing for brook trout or fishing for tommy cod or smelts from the wharf. She was musically inclined and played the organ and sang for her own enjoyment. In her younger years she drove a "connector" or small school bus from Ragged Reef to meet the River Hebert school bus; being comfortable behind the wheel she also drove trucks and tractors for farming and work around her home. Living for over a century Ruby had been a witness to great many things in her lifetime - having lived through two World Wars and with those came the shortages and rations, has watched a Zeppelin flyover Ragged Reef at a very low altitude, the change from kerosene lamps to electric lights, the first radio and eventually in 1951 a TV that was a gift from her daughter, the installation of her first telephone, and after living for 60 plus years on a dirt road - in 1993 the road was paved. She recalls walking with her husband on that dirt road pushing a baby carriage into Joggins to get groceries a distance of approximately 3 miles each way. Ruby was an adherent of Joggins United Church and fondly remembers when it was built, and attending opening services morning, afternoon and evening, that Sunday. Ruby enjoyed the comforts of her own home which she shared with her husband Arnold until his passing in 1994, with whom she enjoyed 65 years of marriage. They were blessed with the births of six children Katherine “Kay”, Merrill and Glenn. Ruby enjoyed the love and laughter that were her grandchildren Dale, Dana, Darren and Bethany; and one great grandchild Austin as well as several nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Ruby was predeceased by her husband Arnold; infant children Evelyn, Kenneth and Lloyd-Douglas; son-in-law, Austin Brown; granddaughter-in-law, Michele Brown and great grandchild, David Brown. Following Ruby’s wishes, cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Campbell’s Funeral Home, 98 Church St., Amherst NS, 902-667-9906. A private graveside service will take place in the River Hebert Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of floral tributes, memorial contributions in Ruby’s memory can be made to the River Hebert/ Joggins Pastoral Charge or to the charity of your choice. Online Condolences & sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family via: www.campbellsamherst.ca or by visiting the funeral home Facebook page.