Ruby Lucille Sprout Hodge Berry passed away January 30, 2019 at age 102.
She was born on August 19, 1916 in Quincy, MI
to Cora Irene (Dove) Sprout and William Earl Sprout Sr. She attended the Newton Country School and
graduated from Quincy High School in 1935.
She graduated from secretarial school and was employed at the Quincy
Lumberyard, where she met Eddie Hodge.
They were married in 1942 before he served in World War II. After the war they resided first at their
home next to the Quincy Methodist Church, and then built their house on Gilead
Lake, where Ruby would live for more than 50 years.
After working as a secretary for the Quincy
Schools, she worked with Eddie at Douglas Manufacturing Company in Bronson for
many years. She loved to golf, fish, waterski,
keep her yard clean, play Scrabble, attend fish fries with her lake friends, and
visit with friends and neighbors. Her
beloved Eddie passed away suddenly in 1975.
She continued to work at Douglas for several years after his death. She married Vernon Berry in 1982.
They lived life to its fullest, traveling to
Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and all over the United States; attending
square dances where Ruby dressed in traditional dresses that she sewed herself;
and playing cards and other activities with friends and family. She waterskied with grace on her 80
th
birthday, and then declared that she was through with waterskiing.
Vernon passed away from cancer in 1999. Ruby was the best nurse he could have asked
for. She moved to Drew’s Place in 2011,
where she was given outstanding care and was well-loved.
She was a lifelong member of the Quincy Methodist
Church. She was preceded in death by her
parents; sisters Hilda Fern Braatz, Alice Melissa Roberts, and Lila Esther
Ferrell; and brother William Earl Sprout Jr.
She is survived by eight nieces and nephews: Charles (Jan) Braatz, Sarah Jane Dunn, Judy
Ruffner, Victor Braatz, Tom (Pam) Braatz, Jeffrey (Mary Grace) Braatz, Michael
Roberts, and Carolyn Ferrell (Lorin Burgess).
She is also survived by numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and their
families.
Services will be held on Friday, February 8 at Dutcher
Funeral Home, 440 West Chicago St., Coldwater.
Visitation will be from 10:00 am-12:00 pm; the funeral will take place
at 12:00 pm. Burial will immediately
follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Quincy. Pastor
Jan Braatz will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Quincy Methodist
Church, 32 West Chicago Street, Quincy, MI
49082; Drew’s Place of Coldwater, 289 Perkins Street, Coldwater, MI 49036; or SouthernCare Hospice, 1965 Boardman
Road Suite B, Jackson, MI 49202.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Drew’s Place for the
commendable quality of care and tenderness that they provided to Ruby during
the last years of her life. Southern
Care Hospice also provided exemplary service.
www.dutcherfh.com
