Ruth Helen McGaughey, 93 of Newport, departed this life on Monday, July 5, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas.
She was the daughter of the late Harvey Nelson and Agnes (Griffin) Nelson and was born on April 1, 1928, in Lunsford, Arkansas.
Having been advanced academically during early grades, Ruth graduated from Dixie High School in 1944 at the age of 16. She then moved from home to a boarding house in Jonesboro after landing a secretarial job for an insurance company owned by Mr. Roy Penix. She enjoyed working for Mr. Penix, but she was soon offered a job for more money by one of the banks in town and she took it. She worked there until her marriage in 1947 to John Cecil McGaughey. After her marriage, John and she and John’s parents moved to Newport, Arkansas to run a new farming operation, McGaughey Brothers, Inc.
The McGaughey’s proceeded to establish themselves as active members in the Newport Community and in the Newport First Methodist Church. Ruth poured her energies into being a hardworking farm housewife and mother. She became especially involved in Eastern Star and was active in the county extension homemakers’ club. She became a member of the Madonna Sunday School Class and often served as its teacher. She eventually became the bookkeeper and “official errand runner” (a job requiring much time and elbow grease but not meriting much glory) for McGaughey Brothers, inc.
About the time that their daughter Connie graduated from Arkansas State University, John made an offer to Ruth that she was not able to resist. Would she be interested in going to college; not with any grand purpose in mind but just for the satisfaction of having done so? She had always regretted that she had not been able to afford the time and money to go. He believed they could swing it financially. She said “yes”, and threw herself into the project with great fervor. It took quite a while of driving to Jonesboro on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, year-round, to accomplish her goal. In 1976 Ruth graduated with a BA in English as, Student of Special Distinction. She had managed to set the grading curve in every class she had attended.
In her free time, Ruth enjoyed traveling and the outdoors. She had an adventurous spirit and was always ready for their next trip. She was also a very active member of the Order of the Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Grand Matron in 1989. Through Eastern Star, she made lifelong friendships that brought her much joy in life. Ruth also found great joy in gardening. Each summer she would grow to produce in her garden in her backyard where she could often be found weeding or picking her vegetables. In her later years, she would often be seen weeding the flower beds at St. Bernard’s Village in Jonesboro when that became her home. Ruth was a competitive card player who took winning games of Skip-Bo against her family and friends very seriously (and if you were her partner, you had better play correctly). She also enjoyed playing Dominos and Hand and Foot.
Ruth is survived by her son, John Mark McGaughey (Beverly) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, her grandchildren, Lee McGaughey Stuart (Kimberly) of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Amanda Rowe (Nathan) of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and Ryan McGaughey (Kenzie) of Fayetteville, Arkansas and her sister, Jackie Gieptner (Ervin) of Houston, Texas. She had 3 great-grandchildren, Makayla and Kellan Rowe, and Jocelyn Stuart. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, John Cecil McGaughey, her parents, Harvey and Agnes Nelson, her daughter, Connie Stuart, her brother, J.H. Nelson Sr., and her sisters Faye Gaeke, Edith Drake, and Garner McDaniel. She is also remembered by many close friends that she made through the years.
Funeral services will be 2:00 Friday, July 9, 2021, at Newport First United Methodist with burial in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Friends may visit at the church on Friday from 1:00 until service time.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Ryan McGaughey, Lee Stuart, Nathan Rowe, Heath McGaughey, John Lewis Hutchinson, and Justin Doyle.
Memorials may be made to First Methodist Church in Newport or a charity of your choice.
