Ruby Atriel Rutherford

Ruby Atriel Mason Rutherford, 74, passed away on Saturday, November 19, 2016, in Abilene. Visitation will be on Monday, November 21, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, at 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be held on, Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., at Oldham Lane Church of Christ, 5049 Oldham Lane, Abilene, Texas 79602. Minister Chris McCurley will officiate. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park, 5750 US Highway 277 South, Abilene, Texas. Atriel was born on May 4, 1942, to LeRoy Herbert Mason, Sr. and Myra Gertrude Burden Mason in Lynn County Texas. Atriel was raised in Abilene, Texas, and attended schools here. She married Wayne Rutherford on August 12, 1959, in Roscoe, Texas. While Wayne was in the US Air Force, their travels took them to Wyoming, Colorado, Okinawa, California, and Washington, D.C. During their military service, they were blessed with three sons: Dee, Bob, and Jon. In 1976, they moved back home to Abilene and their sons graduated from Atriel's alma mater, Abilene High School. She loved Texas and was happiest being "home" in Abilene. She retired from ACU in May 2007, after 22 years of service in the Department of Mathematics. Survivors include her husband, Wayne, children Dee (Cynthia) Rutherford of Corpus Christi; Bob (Elia) Rutherford of Austin; and Jon (Christine) Rutherford of Naperville, IL. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Nolan, Kailey, Michael, Matthew, and A.J. Her surviving brothers and sister are LeRoy (Mary) Mason, Jr., of Abilene; Jerry (LaVerne) Mason of Baird; H.B. (Pat) Mason of San Diego, CA; Charles Roberts, Carlton, Texas; and Kathy Minter of Texas City. Additional survivors include her sister-in-law, who she lovingly referred to as her "sister", Beth (Jerry) Parrish of Kansas City, MO; brother-in-law, Gene Rutherford of Big Spring, Texas; and brother-in-law, Morris (Barbara) Weir of Clifton, Texas. Atriel was preceded in death by her father, LeRoy Mason, Sr.; her mother, Myra Roberts, and step-father, Ray Roberts and wife Esther; grandparents William and Martha Burden and Homer and Naomi Mason. Also preceding her in death were her sister, Doris Marie Cochran; brothers, Tommy and Clifton Mason; father-in-law, D. C., her "Daddy", Rutherford; mother-in-law, Laurice Weir and her husband, Edwin; a niece, Karen Riddle; a sister-in-law, Ivy Mason; and numerous aunts and uncles. Atriel's greatest joy was being a Christian. She and Wayne worshipped at the Oldham Lane Church of Christ in Abilene. The family wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to Dr. Jose Vega and the staff of Hendrick Cancer Center and the staff of Hendrick Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, you may choose to contribute to Foster's Home for Children, P.O. Box 978, Stephenville, Texas 76401; Christian Service Center, Abilene, Texas; the ACU Department of Mathematics, or your favorite charity.