Ruby Wright Hurst

Ruby Wright Hurst, age 101, passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016 at a local healthcare facility.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Hurst; her son, Don Hurst; her parents, Olaf and Martha Wright; brothers Wilson, Charles, and Edmond Wright; and sisters Jewel (Liles) and Bessie (Tayes).

She is survived by her daughter, Joy Hurst of Newark, CA; grandsons, Lloyd and Leonard Stinson; great- grandchildren Raymond and Elly Mills.

Ruby grew up in Lawrence County, Tennessee. During the depression, she and her sister Jewel earned money by singing gospel duets in churches and revival meetings and teaching gospel music. Ruby later enrolled in Vaughn’s School of Music where she met Grady Hurst. They married and moved to Chattanooga where they performed with the “Word of God Quartet” at the North Chattanooga Church of God. Afterwards, they joined the staff of Lee College, where Ruby taught piano and music theory. While teaching at Lee, Ruby completed her BA degree in Music from the University of Chattanooga and her MA from Illinois Wesleyan University. After retiring from Lee, she taught private piano lessons for many years.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Grissom- Serenity Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends, Tuesday, June 28, 2016 from 5- 8 p.m. at the funeral home.