Mrs. Ruby Kate Shook, age 87, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, departed this life on Friday afternoon, January 17, 2025, at the local hospital.

Ruby was born June 18, 1937, in Cherokee County, North Carolina, to the late Thomas "Tom" and Nora Belle Pickelsimer Beaver. She was preceded in death by her son, Tommie Phillips; sisters, Jeanette Ledford, Margaret Stover, Louise Clayton, Lucille Mulkey, and Willie Thompson; brothers, James Beaver, Jerry Beaver, Jimmy Ray Beaver, and Frank Voyles; and a brother-in-law, William Salmons.

One of twelve children, Ruby learned early in life to stand her ground. Fiercely independent and direct, she was not one to mince words, and you always knew where you stood with her. A woman of hard work and deep love for her family, Ruby was also a loyal friend whose impact will not soon be forgotten. To know Ruby was to know someone whose memory will linger fondly with the perfect sentiment: "It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember."

Ruby is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, James Richard "Dick" Shook of Tunnel Hill, GA; her sons and daughter-in-law, James Charles and Yulma Phillips of Dalton, GA, Michael Scott Phillips of Tunnel Hill, GA, and Gerald Ray Shook of Ringgold, GA; her sister, Marie Salmons of Dalton, GA; sister-in-law, Juanita Beaver of Dalton, GA; grandchildren, Brittany Nicole Manis, Michelle Phillips, Eric Phillips, Destiny Phillips, Robert Shook, Nick Shook, and Linda Cervantes; great-grandchildren, Carson Manis, Colton Phillips, and Abriel Phillips; as well as several other great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Ruby Kate Shook will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Ponders Melrose Chapel, with Reverend Regina Wilhelm officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Sundial Columbarium at Ponders Whitfield Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 11:00 a.m. Monday morning until the service hour.

Ruby's love, strength, and indomitable spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and all who enough to were fortunate know her.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, GA, 30721. For more information, please visit www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org