Elva Dooley

Elva Ruth Dooley was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Ruth was born February 3, 1930, to Milton and Ora Lott in Bell County Texas. She was the youngest of five children with three brothers, Harold, Charles, and Richard, and one sister Vivian. She grew up during the depression and was raised on the family farm. If you ever visited with Ruth, you were told great stories about life on the family farm. One of her favorites to tell was how at a very young age, she would ride her horse back and forth to the fields to take her father to and from work for the day. Helping him while he worked was a favorite pastime of hers and you would often find Ruth right alongside her father while he was building or fixing things on the farm.

Ruth graduated from Academy High School in 1947. She was an excellent student throughout high school and participated in cheer, basketball, softball, swim, and theater productions. Her mother taught her to play piano at a young age as well.

After high school and days of working the fields were behind her, she got a job with Santa Fe Railroad. The job didn't last long though because she soon married and had two daughters Judy and Renee. Ruth chose to stay home and raise her girls while living in the country outside of Georgetown, Texas.

Living in the country was great fun for Ruth and her family. She and the girl's dad would often take them fishing and rock collecting. She was a Girl Scout leader and would run day camp in the pasture where she would teach the girls about camping and cooking on the campfire. Family vacations were often spent camping in Colorado or Wyoming where Ruth always set up the best campsite because she would make popcorn on their fire for everyone to enjoy.

Ruth taught Sunday school at church and was involved in Vacation Bible School each year. She also sang in the choir with her beautiful voice each Sunday. Her love of music and desire to spread the word of our Lord was one of her best traits. She was never shy to talk about His blessings in her life.

Mending clothes and cooking were two of her favorite activities as she grew older. She made many of the clothes Judy and Renee wore when they were younger, and she was "Mom" to so many friends who would spend time singing and laughing with her while she cooked the most delicious meals. She always made more than needed so anyone who stopped by would have something to eat. Her home was always filled with animals to love on too. Cats, dogs, parakeets, and horses were always present. She and her husband raised bird dogs who would then help to bring home delicious game to cook up. Quail, biscuits and gravy was made on more than one occasion in her kitchen. Never one to wait around, when she and her husband purchased a boat, she taught herself how to ski then promptly showed everyone else how to do it too!

Ruth went to work for the City of Waco in 1974 at Sue Ross Senior Center. Her hard work earned her a promotion to director where she took the seniors on trips to the horseraces, the State Fair, and to visit Arkansas. She helped organize dances on Thursday nights, art and ceramic classes, and a pool room for the men at the center. Ruth ended her career as a receptionist at Heart of Texas Council of Government.

In her retirement she spent time gardening and visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Ora Lott; husband, B.A. Dooley; grandson, Jacob Pack; brothers, Harold, Charles, and Richard Lott; and sister, Vivian Stewart.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Judy Gunn, Renee French, and Annetta Hughes; grandchildren, Ian Joslin and wife, Sara, Caitlin Thomas and husband, Bryan, and Jacob Pack; great grandchildren, Brenna Karie-Fenton, Evelyn Joslin, Luke Joslin, and Meradith Thomas; and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was buried in a private graveside service in Holland Cemetery in Holland, Texas.