Life Story

She was born to Clarence A. Q. Durst Sr. and Ruby Lee Leadbetter, who died giving birth to their youngest daughter Ruby Lee, on August 22, 1940, in Austin, Texas.

Ruby left Austin, Texas for Los Angeles, California, as a teen, where she met and married Frank Melvin Mills. Together they had and raised 6 children. In 2015, Ruby Mills became a widow.

She was employed as a machine shop operator with Hughes Aircraft and retired after close to 20 years of service with the company.

In 1993, her youngest daughter Shana, lost her life in an automobile accident. Ruby stepped in and became the legal guardian of her grandchildren, Nakoma, Michael, and Sean Pratt, and raised them until they became adults.

Ruby loved all of her family and used every opportunity throughout her life to spend time with them. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all have stories of her fun personality and joyous laugh.

She enjoyed movies and girls' nights out with daughters Sabrena and Tammy. She loved bingo nights and casino visits where she won more often than lost. She loved music and dancing often being escorted by her daughters to support her entertainer son-in-law “Mark Brow aka Tre’sure” at his performances.

She enjoyed assisting many of her fellow senior neighbors and friends, who often relied on her to drive them to and from medical appointments, and outings, until she was unable to, due to her medical conditions.

She is survived by 5 children: Sabrena (Mills) Brown, Tammy Mills, Derick Mills, Todd Mills, and Tracy Mills.