Obituary of Ruby Burnette Bailey

Ruby Burnette Bailey February 12, 1917 – September 30, 2018 Ruby was born in rural Sullivan County, Tennessee to Sam and Mary Burnette, and spent most of her childhood on the family farm.  After high school she moved to Johnson City, Tennessee where she met her husband, C.C. “Blue” Bailey.  When her husband passed in 1961, Ruby decided to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a librarian. She earned a B.S. degree in Home Economics and a M.A. degree in Library Science, both with honors from East Tennessee State University.  Moving to Florida to be closer to family, she became  the librarian at Mila Elementary School on Merritt Island in 1969, retiring at the age of 72. During summer vacations Ruby pursued another life-long dream of seeing the world.  She traveled to twenty-seven countries and took many tours within the United States. Always an avid volunteer, she continued volunteering at the Merritt Island Public Library until the age of 96. Ruby will be especially remembered for her energy and enthusiasm, her determination, her generosity, and her great laugh.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Georgia Huffine and Hazel Smith, brother Oscar Burnette, step-daughter and son-in-law Helen and John Sanders. She leaves behind her step-sister Jean Cawood, daughter and son-in-law Janet and Joe Phillips, grandson Darren Longmuir, grandson Scott Longmuir and wife Kim, and many friends and extended family members. If you would like to do something in remembrance of Ruby, please read to someone who can’t read yet, or to someone who can’t read anymore, or be a good friend to your local library. Ruby will forever be in our hearts.