Margaret Ruth Irby

Margaret Ruth Irby passed away on Tuesday October 11, 2016 with her family by her side in Houston Texas. Services will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 3:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler, Texas. Visitation will be Friday October 14, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the funeral home. A private family burial will be at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Margaret was born August 27, 1926 in Houston, Texas to George and Ollie Williams. In 1945 Margaret was residing in Shreveport, Louisiana and working where she met her husband Aubrey Irby. Margaret and Aubrey were married February 1, 1946 and remained married for 63 years until Aubrey passed away in 2009. Margaret and Aubrey moved to Tyler in January 1948. In the years that followed they had four children, Douglas (death as an infant) Earl, David and Cynthia. Margaret was a devoted Christian and an active member of the First Baptist Church and worked in the nursery. Margaret became a member of the Tyler Chapter of the Texas Zeta Alpha sorority and later served as President of the organization. Their service project was making special pillows for women who had breast cancer surgery. Husband Aubrey was very active in Kiwanis and served as the International President of the organization. While in this role they both traveled the world and visited many countries. They were both an honorary guest at the Whitehouse with Ronald and Nancy Reagan as well as George W. and Laura Bush. Margaret was a compassionate and tender hearted woman who was loved by everyone who met her. She only spoke kindness because that was all that was in her heart. Her greatest joys where her grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the light of her life. She loved to read books, play word puzzles and working on table puzzles. She enjoyed having coffee each morning with her daughter Cyndi and discussing life issues. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband Aubrey, son Douglas (infant) and son David Monroe in 2007. She survived by her children, Earl and wife Kay Lynne of Houston; daughter, Cynthia and husband Jim Dunlop of Cypress; daughter-in-law, Mary Irby Nathanson and husband Robert of Tyler; grandchildren, Amy Hebert and husband Tim, Tara Brown and husband David, Tony Sellers and wife Amy, Lori Sellers Hammon and wife Julie, David Irby Jr., Carrie Moore and husband Chris and Cody Castagno; great- grandchildren Tyler, Bradley, Juliet, Kathryn, Jessica, Chloe, Cole, Camille, Cooper, Colton and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Tim Hebert, David Brown, David Irby, Tony Sellers, Cody Castagno and Robert Nathanson.

Margaret Ruth Irby

August 27, 1926 - October 11, 2016