Ruby Russell, 82, died early Saturday morning, Aug. 22, 2009, at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis, Wyo. after many years of health problems.

She was born May 18, 1927 in Pine Bluffs, Wyo., the daughter of Charles Max and Nora (Paullin) Farmer. She attended school in Pine Bluffs and Meeteetse, Wyo. Following school, she and her mother moved to Bremerton, Wash. to work as riveters in the Bremerton Shipyard repairing damaged war ships during World War II.

In 1946 she married Wayne Marbut. To this union was born three sons. The couple later divorced.

Ruby and her mother moved to Casper, Wyo. in 1953 where they owned and operated a dry cleaning and laundry service for four years. During this time she married Charles P. Clifford in Casper. They lived in Billings, Mont. and Rock Springs, Wyo., then moved to Thermopolis in 1962.

The couple divorced, and Ruby continued to live in Thermopolis for the rest of her life.

A masseuse, she was employed by the Hausauers at the Plaza Hotel and then the Holiday Inn of the Waters. In the early 1970s she was employed as a guard at the Wyoming Industrial Institute in Worland, Wyo. until retirement in 1982.

A member of the BPO Does No. 50, she held many positions in the Elks auxiliary. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Her interests included gardening, rock hounding, hunting, fishing, camping, bowling, participating in the Gift of the Waters pageant, and she loved being with her grandchildren. She was living at the Worland Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Dean Farmer and son, Danny Marbut.

Survivors include five sons: Howard Marbut of Hermiston, Phillip Marbut of Minneapolis, Minn., C. Paul Clifford Jr. of Gillette, Wyo. and Glenn and Robert Clifford of Thermopolis; brother, Max “Punky” Farmer of Basin, Wyo.; sisters, Francis Kobernick of Green River, Wyo. and Beverly Garrion of Billings; 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place. The date of the memorial services will be announced.

Mortimore Funeral Home in Thermopolis assisted with arrangements.