Mary Lou Dixon Ruark

Mary Lou Dixon Ruark of Clarkesville, GA. died Monday, January 17, 2011, in Commerce, Georgia where she was lovingly cared for by the staff of the Alzheimer's Care Center. Mrs. Ruark was born in Habersham County on January 31, 1921, to the late Marlor York Dixon and Violet Adeline Humphries Dixon. She grew up in Habersham County and attended school in Cornelia and Clarkesville, graduating from Clarkesville High School in 1938.

After she graduated, her family moved to Athens, Georgia, where she met Herbert Ruark, of Athens. They were married on January 11, 1942. The couple continued to live in Athens, where they both were employed at the Industrial Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company, which was owned by Mr. Ruark's father. After WWII began, they moved to Hopewell, VA, where Mr. Ruark was stationed with the US Army. The Ruarks returned to Clarkesville in 1945 where, with Mrs. Ruark's sister and brother-in-law, they assumed management of Habersham Furniture Company, which was founded by Mrs. Ruark's father. Clarkesville was their home from that point onward, and they enjoyed 65 years of marriage before Mr. Ruark's death in 2007.
During her lifetime, Mrs. Ruark worked as a school secretary in Hopewell, a dental assistant in Athens and a secretary at Veteran's Service in Clarkesville. She was a full-time homemaker from the time she expected her first child until her second child was in school, and then she returned to work as a teacher's assistant at Clarkesville Elementary School. Later she became a library assistant at the school, continuing in that position until she retired.

Mrs. Ruark was a capable and talented person who was actively involved in her church and her community. For most of her life she was a member of the Clarkesville Baptist Church, where she belonged to the Women's Missionary Union, worked with the Girl's Auxiliary, and served on a number of key committees, including the personnel committee and the Board of Trustees. She sang in the choir, worked in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, participated in numerous church programs, and coordinated special events. She loved God above everything else, and she carried her love for God into the as a capable and talented person who was actively involved in her church and her community through church outreach and missions, her work with children at Clarkesville Elementary, and volunteerism, including work with the American Red Cross and other organizations.

Mrs. Ruark was a good wife, a nurturing mother, and a devoted grandmother. She cared deeply for her parents and sisters, her in-laws, extended family, and neighbors. Her actions reflected her concern for others, regardless of their circumstances. She was strong and supportive whenever the needed her help. Her greatest achievement in life was that she loved, and she was loved. She will be missed.

Mrs. Ruark is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Ruark Hoefer of Alexandria, VA; her son, Herbert Clark Ruark, Jr. of Mt Airy; four grandchildren, Matthew Ruark, David Hoefer, Zachary Ruark and Kendall Ruark; one great grandchildren, Mason Ruark; and beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, her mother and father, and her sisters, Hassie Lee Dixon Carroll and Nellie Elizabeth Dixon.

Funeral services will be held Saturday January 22, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Clarkesville Baptist Church with Rev. Grady Walden officiating. Interment will follow in Clarkesville City cemetery. Mrs. Ruark will lie in state at the church from 1:30 until the funeral hour. The family will receive friends at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home on Friday January 21, 2011 from 6:30