Lillian Marie Ruby

Marie Ruby (Lillian Marie Ruby), 84, of Topeka, Kansas, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, at Stormont Vail Hospital.

She was born on April 2, 1941, to George and Lillian (Martin) Sneary in Alva, Oklahoma. Marie was the seventh of ten surviving children. From an early age, she was curious, intelligent, and determined—possessing a desire to be more than what was typically imagined for girls of her generation. Her family moved frequently between towns in Kansas and Oklahoma; yet she graduated high school in just three years as class salutatorian.

Marie worked as a photographer’s assistant and waited tables to put herself through university, paying her own way with grit and independence. Along the way, two of her older sisters helped teach her practical life skills and supported her as she navigated a rapidly changing world, particularly for women coming of age in the 1950s and 1960s.

Marie began her professional life as an elementary school teacher in the Wichita and Haysville school districts. Driven by a deep commitment to children and their emotional well-being, she continued her education and earned her master’s degree to become a school counselor. In 1966, she moved to Topeka the day before the devastating Topeka tornado. She later recalled sheltering in a sub-basement apartment with a mattress pulled over herself and her dog as the winds destroyed nearly everything she owned—just days before beginning a new job and a new chapter of her life.

Marie worked for USD 501 first as a teacher and then made history as the district’s first guidance counselor, helping to shape the role at a time when student mental health and emotional support were only beginning to be formally recognized in schools. She later took time away from full-time work to raise her family, but her calling to education never left her. She returned part-time as a teacher at Children’s Day Out Preschool before resuming counseling work with USD 437. Over the years, she served students at Sumner Elementary School, Central Park Elementary School, Auburn Middle School, Pauline Central School, Jay Shidler Elementary School, and Wanamaker schools. Marie retired in 2004, leaving behind generations of students whose lives were shaped by her steady presence, compassion, and belief in their potential.

On June 16, 1974, she married Lorne Ruby. Together, Lorne and Marie made their home in Topeka, Kansas, and briefly in Sarasota, Florida. Marie was a passionate educator and a lifelong advocate for women and children, including early and thoughtful support for comprehensive sex education in schools—often ahead of her time.

She was a devoted mother and a best friend to her daughter, Maia. She helped raise several nieces and nephews and was a daily, grounding presence in the lives of her grandsons. Her door was always open to family, something she cherished deeply. Marie loved being the gathering point for holidays—even though she never particularly enjoyed cooking—and found joy simply in having everyone together.

An avid reader, Marie valued her quiet time, loved her small dogs, and possessed a dry wit that surfaced when least expected. In 2001, she survived a major health crisis, spending eleven days intubated in the ICU following surgery. Her recovery took months and required relearning how to walk and speak. Through sheer determination and resilience, she not only recovered but returned to work—an embodiment of the strength she quietly carried throughout her life.

In later years, this unsinkable woman became known as Nana, a name she treasured above all others. Being Nana was not a title to her—it was a calling. Nana rarely missed a soccer match and could always be found on the sidelines, bundled against the weather, cheering with unmistakable pride for her grandsons, Alecxander and Damian. She was present in the daily, ordinary ways that matter most: shuttling them to music and karate lessons, keeping after-school routines running smoothly, and ensuring they were safe, fed, and loved. With two creative, energetic boys, the task was never small—but Nana met it with patience, steadiness, humor, and an unshakeable devotion that made her their constant and their home.

Marie is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Lorne Ruby; her daughter, Maia Ruby-Clemmons; her grandsons, Alecxander Clemmons (girlfriend Faith Swader) and Damian Clemmons; her great-nephew/son, Todd Topham (wife Deb Topham); her great-niece, Michelle “Shelly” Sours (husband Dell Sours); her sister, Nona Kummell (husband Gary Kummell); and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her father, George Sneary; her mother, Lillian Sneary; brothers Ray Sneary, Max Sneary, Floyd Sneary, and Roy Sneary; and sisters Maude Ellen Sneary, Leila Ford, Laura Lunsford, Ruth Barnett, and Eileen Bouton.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Topeka, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00PM on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 1321 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66604, with Rabbi Samuel Stern officiating.

Interment will take place following the funeral service at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66604.

Memorials are suggested to any charity of the donor’s choosing. Marie specifically championed education, children, and women’s issues.

To watch a live stream of the funeral service, please click HERE

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