Obituary - Ruby Joyce Shortell

Long-time Havre resident Ruby Joyce Shortell has gone to her Lord in Heaven. Joyce passed from this life July 2, 2020, at home with family in Alpine, California. She passed away from natural causes.

Services to honor her life of grace will be in Havre, August 29.

Joyce's family suggest memorial donations to be made in her name to Hill County Library.

Joyce was born November 17, 1920, on the family farm outside of Faxon, Oklahoma, one of four children born to Walter and Naomi (Rawls) Glasgow, where she grew up, attending grade and high school. She graduated valedictorian from Faxon High School, going on to attend Cameron College in Lawton, Oklahoma.

She joined the U.S. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943, where she served as a corporal in Santa Anna, CA, and was honorably discharged. Later she worked at Air Search Defense plant in Segundo, CA.

At the end of the war, Joyce moved to Lawton, OK, where she met her husband, Oliver L. Shortell, who was stationed nearby and awaiting discharge from the Army. It was love at first sight for both Joyce and Oliver: He visited the store she worked in, buying socks every day.

They were married in Kalispell, MT, August 1, 1945. Joyce and Oliver later moved to Havre, where, they raised their family.

When Oliver passed away in 1997, Joyce remained in the family home, staying near her family and friends. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother - her family was her joy and she interacted-regularly with her grandchildren, who always called her "Grandmama."

An avid reader, Joyce could be found in her favorite chair by the window immersed in literature and her Bible. She was a very active member of the First Baptist Church, serving as board member, women's society, deaconess and Sunday school teacher. She made many lifelong friends through her church.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Shortell, parents, two brothers and a granddaughter, Miranda Shortell Kirby.

She is survived by sons, Michael (Shirley) Shortell, Kevin (Candace) Shortell; daughters, Linda (Ron) McKay, and Tracy (Randall) Rice, 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a sister, LaMerle Glasgow Rogers of Santa Barbara, CA, and various nephews and nieces.