It seems like everyone I know has a fancy aunt, that female relative who defines being a lady through her grace, poise and beauty. Ruby was one of Dee's older sisters. I had seen photos of her before, always in dresses with her hair set, her outfits perfectly coordinated, her makeup pristine contrasting elegantly against her rural background.
When I finally stepped into her Verdigre, Nebraska home, I was impressed but not surprised by the sparkling ceiling, lush shag carpet, velvety furnishings and the elaborate draperies. Though in her eighties, she remained an icon of Grace Kelly femininity. She was quiet, demure and lovely.
The next morning I woke up to the smell of bacon. We went up to the kitchen to find Ruby already fully dressed in a tailored pant and silk blouse. She and her husband were making us all breakfast complete with freshly-squeezed orange juice served in glitter-encrusted crystal.
Dee would tell us Ruby was born with class. Though raised on a farm, she inherently had the demeanor of a royal castle-dwelling counterpart. Her first husband, Errol Hazen, treated her like a princess. He was a hard-working charmer who built a very successful John Deere business in the area, though his life ended prematurely.
Later, she married her second husband, Don, a dashing gentlemen. They made a glamorous couple, the Brangelina of Verdigre, I imagine. They ran the John Deere business together until Don was struck by cancer. He also died early, a devastating blow to his devoted bride.
Her third and final husband was Curly Dvorak, a well-known entertainer in the region who could play the organ like magic. She was a beautiful jewel that fit well with his public persona.
Rubies demonstrate that in the midst of all the power women have at their disposal, one of their most powerful traits is that of being a lovely lady.
