Mary (Woodring) Formby

Mary Ruth (Woodring) Formby, 95, a resident of Corsicana for 71 years, the last 11 as a resident of Heritage Oaks, passed away Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Heritage Oaks Retirement Village. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Oakwood Cemetery. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with B.F. Risinger Jr. and Bill Honea officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Mrs. Formby was born July 28, 1911 in Plainview. She was a member of First Baptist Church for more than 70 years. She was a director of the 4- and 5-year-old Sunday School Department for more than 40 years. She sang in the Solid Rocker Choir for many years, along with being active in the Woman?s Missionary Union. Her love of church work led to many mission trips to Haiti, Canada and places throughout the United States. She was a homemaker until her children were grown, and then she worked as a kindergarten teacher at the State Home. She attended Navarro College to further her education. For 14 years, Mrs. Formby worked as a manager of Parkway Marble and Granite Co., selling and designing monuments. The Formby monument design was chosen to go in the ?Rock of Ages? memorials, a book done by Norman Rockwell, and was included in his publication. She treasured the certificate of merit from him. For 10 years, she worked as a nurse?s attendant at Navarro County Memorial Hospital, where she fell in love with small babies. When her children were in school, she served as an officer for many years in PTA. Later, she was president of the City Parent-Teacher Organization. She enjoyed her work as an auxiliary member at Navarro Regional Hospital. Ruth served as president of that auxiliary from 1989-?90. She was a charter member of the Altrusa Club, the group that started the program of Food for Fitness, better known as Meals on Wheels. Ruth was known for her beautiful art work in china painting and oil painting. She loved to paint and give her paintings away. Many people across the community have beautiful pieces that she painted. She taught china painting for several years. Along with her painting, she was an accomplished musician. She played for years at the church and the local nursing homes. At 95 years of age, she was still playing the piano for the residents where she lived. Before health problems, she loved to travel. Her travels took her to many places all over the world. Memorials can be made to the Building Fund, First Baptist Church, or Alzheimer?s Association. A special thanks to the Heritage Oaks staff for the wonderful care given and to Pat Watkins, her caregiver for the past year. She was preceded in death by her parents, C.B. and Ruby Woodring; husband Andrew Franklin Formby in 1973; grandchild Andrew James Formby; great-grandchild, Colton Lee Knauth; sisters Christine Bristow, Doris Sturges and Wanda Westmoreland; and brothers Willard Woodring and Lee Woodring. Ruth is survived by two sons, Bill Formby and wife Katrine of Austin, and Ed Formby and wife Joanne of Corsicana; daughter Patty Knauth and husband Calvin of Eureka; grandchildren Jim Formby and wife Carol of Bedford, Tim Formby and wife Kim of Steuben, Maine, Donna Hair of Corsicana, Amy Cook and husband Michael of Eureka, and Kurt Knauth and wife Michelle of Eureka; eight great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; brother Wayne Woodring of Dallas; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.