Ruby Louise O’Brien (Horton)

Ruby, Age 90, passed away peacefully June 11, 2021 due to heart failure.

She was born on April 30, 1931 in St. Clair County, Illinois to Ralph and Eva Getha Horton.

She married her first love, Wendel Semlitch, and they had three girls.

For many years, Ruby was a retail cashier for Katz Drug Store, Skaggs Drug Store and 7-11, where she made many friends. It suited her with her outgoing and fun personality. She had a strong spirit, was very funny, outgoing and ready to do anything on the spur of the moment.

Her hobbies were reading, playing card games, (especially poker), jigsaw puzzles, watching westerns, black and white movies and word puzzles, along with Casino and Walmart trips. She loved to sew when she was younger and made most of her girls’ dresses and school clothes. She always dressed up every year on Halloween.

We all looked forward to her annual birthday calls to us when she would sing Happy Birthday to us. We will miss those calls. We were blessed to have recently celebrated her 90th Birthday and we all got the chance to sing Happy Birthday to her.

Her favorite movie was Dirty Dancing, and her favorite song was “Somewhere My Love.”

And of course, her color of choice was Pink. Everything was pink.

She was easily startled, so there were times when customers may have snuck up on her and they ended up having a frozen pizza or nachos tossed at them. On occasion, she would run late for work and put her husband’s police light on the roof of her Grand Prix and speed through Fenton to get there on time.

She is survived by her daughters, Sandra Louise Mickley, Barbara Sue Stevenson and Wendy Lynn Saultz (Kelly).

Grandchildren, Christopher Michael Hackworth (Jovon), Shawn Wendel Mickley (Susan), Melanie Washington and Melina Washington.

Great Grandchildren, Lane, Augustus, Rhys, Frances and Jonas.

For all, she will be forever remembered. Her laugh, her love and her little sayings:

“You wanna know something?”

“Tell me something”

“Isn’t that fantastic”

“Anyway”

“It’s been nice playing with you”

Now we say, “Let me tell you something Ruby….. We love you. You will be in our hearts and minds every single day.”

3 Comments

  1. Wendy Saultz on June 16, 2021 at 4:15 pm

    You gave me 55 years of memories I will cherish forever



  2. Lisa Miles on June 16, 2021 at 4:23 pm

    We love you Ruby. We will miss you dearly. Keep them laughing in heaven. You could always make me laugh. You are such a beautiful soul. RIP sweet lady!! Love Lisa and Sterling



  3. Barbara Daugherty on June 17, 2021 at 12:47 am

    Sympathy to the family



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