Ruby Nell Grace

Ruby Nell Grace, 87, a resident of Little Rock, formerly of Russellville, died Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born April 27, 1924, at Dardanelle to Noah Layfette and Lota Salina Piercey Kuhn. Ruby was a member of First Baptist Church at Russellville for more than 60 years, where she enjoyed the Young at Heart seniors group. After moving to Little Rock, she became a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Ruby was very involved in working for the improvement of the care of mentally disabled children. There is a group home for mentally challenged adults in Russellville called Grace House. She was a former employee of P. O. M. in Russellville. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Tom Grace; a son, Thomas R. "Ricky" Grace, who was born with Downs Syndrome; and a grandson, Richard T. Lambert III. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Anita and Bill Donnell and Pam Lambert, all of Little Rock; a sister, Edna Faye Grace of Dardanelle; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2011, at Shinn Chapel with the Rev. Tom Walker officiating. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery at Dardanelle under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the chapel. The family would like to express a special "Thank You" to Tanya Semour and the staff at Andover Retirement Center for their care and support for Mrs. Grace. Memorials may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, c/o First Baptist Church, 200 South Denver Avenue, Russellville, Arkansas 72801 or Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 North Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.