Ruby Lee (Batson) Hagewood

Ruby Lee (Batson) Hagewood of Republic passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021 at Ozarks Methodist Manor in Marionville. She would have been 93 years old on Feb. 1. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, and services followed at 2 p.m. Thursday Jan. 14; burial at Wade Chapel Cemetery followed service. She was preceded in death by her parents Guy and Lola Batson of Republic, her infant brother Clarence Batson, and her husband of 30-plus years Roy Lee Hagewood.Hagewood was born in western Greene County in 1928 and lived in the Republic area the most of her life. She grew up in the country a few miles west of Republic. Hagewood began her lifelong attendance and membership at Hopewell Baptist Church west of Republic as a young child. As a young child she attended St Elmo and Prairie View schools, one room schoolhouses in rural western Greene County. She later attended and graduated from Republic High School in 1946.She met her husband Roy (Lee) who also grew up in the same rural area and they were married on Aug. 22, 1946 in Springfield. They had two sons, Ronald Lee (Ron) of Branson West and Roy Alan of Billings. Roy preceded her in death in 1977 and she missed him dearly the remainder of her life. Her two main jobs were working at the Royal McBee typewriter plant in Springfield and as a proofreader at Springfield Newspapers, Inc. until she retired. She was a regular member of the Republic Senior Center, working as the treasurer for many years. She worked for several years doing jobs such as delivering rental cars; her pride and joy was working for the Springfield Visitors Bureau. This included manning the visitors booth at the airport on a regular basis. Hagewood is survived by her sons, Ron and Roy (Alan), daughters-in-law Connie (Ron) and Sheryl (Roy), six grandchildren, two step grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and one great-grandson who preceded her in death.