Rubye Butler Hornbuckle passed gently and peacefully at her home on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015. Rubye lived a full and rich 99 years. She was born March 11, 1915 in Hulbert, Okla. to Robert and Charlotte Butler. She attended and graduated from Sequoia Boarding school in Tahlequah, Okla. and from the business college at Haskell College in Kansas City, Mo.
In 1937, Rubye came to Cherokee and was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs where she worked until the early 1950s. In the late 1940s, Rubye and Charlie built the Cherokee Motel, seeing many changes in the tourist business. Rubye worked until 1992.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles I. Hornbuckle, [Charlie] and a son Charles James Hornbuckle [Jim].
She is survived by daughter, Beth Farris and husband, Jim, granddaughter Joy Duls and husband Josh, two great granddaughters, Aiyana and Lily, and by daughter, Jenean Hornbuckle and husband Bob White.
She is also survived by daughter in law, Suzanne Hornbuckle; grandson, James Hornbuckle; two great granddaughters, Courtney Hornbuckle and Lindsay Crowe; two great great grandsons, Wayah and Cohen; granddaughter,Jennifer H. Standingdeer and husband Dean, and two great granddaughters, Charleigh and Riley.
She considered herself grandma to several of the foster children at the Cherokee Children’s Home. Rubye was a creative needle-worker and loved to knit, crochet and sew. She was always happy in her flower gardens.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, Jan. 17 in the Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Service at the Funeral Home beginning at 10:30 am. Rubye asks, that as memorial to her full life, you “Pay it forward, with random acts of kindness,” give a friend a flower, check in on a neighbor, or give to your favorite charity.
An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com