MT
NEBO CEMETERY, SAWDUST, MAURY COUNTY TENNESSEE
FLY, (Mary) Ruth Fite, 11 May 1917 - (15 Oct
2011). "Wife of J.E. Fly." (Maury Co. native; d/o late John Burton Fite & mabel
Jones Fite; w/o late Jasper E. Fly; preceded in death by infant dau. Pattie Ruth
Fly)
Mrs. Mary Ruth Fite Fly, age 94, a life long resident of
the Sawdust Community, passed away on Saturday morning, October 15, at her
residence.
Born in Maury County on May 11, 1917, she was the daughter of the late John
Burton Fite and Mabel Jones Fite and wife of the late Jasper E. Fly.
Survivors include her sons: Claude Fly (Susan) of Sawdust, Frank Fly (Suzanne)
of Murfreesboro, Mark Fly of Oak Ridge and Joe Fly of Sawdust; her
grandchildren: Randy Fly, Pat Fly Kaiser, Sarah Fly, Nathaniel Fly, Jill
Johnson, Bryce Fly, Austin Fly, Tiffany Fly and Nicholas Fly;
great-grandchildren: Brandi Fly Johnson, Casey Fly Scott and Patrick Fly;
great-great-grandchildren: Gavin Johnson, Carter Johnson, Chasity Fly, Addison
Walker, Bryson Walker and Dakoda Walker; beloved sister-in-law, Lottie Fite of
Marianna, FL; beloved nieces: Judy Baker Fleming of Franklin and Donna Fite
Moore of Marianna, FL along with several beloved nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Fly was preceded in death by an
infant daughter, Pattie Ruth Fly.
From "Mom" to "Aunt Ruth" to "Granny," Ruth "made herself useful and helpful" to
family and friends alike her entire life. She believed strongly in hard work and
dedicated all her energy and time to caring for others. Ruth's life spanned nine
decades, from riding her horse and buggy to Woodrow School to flying and driving
coast to coast to see the country, visit relatives, and see the great National
Parks.
Ruth was outnumbered at home with a husband and four sons, but she managed the
family, worked her vegetable garden, helped on the farm, and always kept a very
positive and pleasant demeanor.
A life-long member of the Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church, Ruth read the "Upper
Room" Bible stories to her boys every night at bedtime and made sure they were
in church every Sunday.
The daughter and sister of school teachers, Ruth valued education very highly
and graduated from Columbia Central High School as Salutatorian in 1935. She and
her husband sent three sons through college and graduate school. Ruth worked
first and foremost as a mother and a wife and being a homemaker, cooking,
cleaning, and caring for her family and extended family, including feeding the
farm hands.
Before her marriage, Ruth worked at the Gordon's store in downtown Columbia.
After her marriage, she worked as a substitute school teacher and finished her
career by managing the ladies clothing department at Anderson Bros. and Foster,
which later became Sullivan's Department Store, for 40 years. Everyone who ever
met Ruth admired, respected, and loved her for the things she believed in, the
things she stood for, and the example she set.
She is gone, but will never be forgotten.
A memorial service for Mrs. Fly conducted at the Mt. Nebo United Methodist
Church with Sister Donna Higgenbotham officiating. Inurnment will follow in the
Mt. Nebo Cemetery.
Condensed by Mary Bob McClain Richardson 15
Oct 2015. Posted by C. Wayne Austin 16 Oct 2015