Mary Ruby Fuller

Highlights of the Life of Mary Ruby Fuller Born in Ellis County, Texas near Ennis, Texas on July 21, 1908 Daughter of John Thomas Dennie and Edna Rebecca Dennie Preceded in death by her Husband, John Henry Fuller who died in December, 1980. Preceded in death by one granddaughter, Shana Marie Fuller, and four brothers, Leolan, Robert Thurman, John Thomas Dennie, Jr. and Felix Arthur (Buddy) Smith. Survived by two sisters, Mildred Owens Starks of Forney, Texas and Ruth Compton of Waxahachie, Texas. Married John Henry Fuller on March 23, 1931 in Ennis, Texas. Her husband was an Ordained Minister of the United Pentecostal Church International. Five children were born to John Henry and Mary Ruby Fuller and all survive her. Marjorie Ann Davis-Darling of Rockwall, Texas Charles Thomas Fuller of Forney, Texas Earl Ethan Fuller of Forney, Texas John Paul Fuller of Forney, Texas Robert Lynn Fuller of Sunnyvale, Texas Member of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church of Mesquite, Texas for 52 years. Was oldest surviving member at the time of her death. Was filled with the Holy Ghost for over 75 years, Her husband, John Henry Fuller pastored churches throughout Texas and Arkansas throughout their married life until his retirement. After the death of her husband in December 1980, Mary Ruby lived in her own home until 2002, when she moved in with one of her sons because of health conditions. Mary Ruby owned and drove her own car until one month before her 90th birthday. Mary Ruby had 3 Pastors during her adult life: Her husband, Rev. John Henry Fuller Rev. Paul E. Hosch Rev. Richard W. Flowers THE TIMES AND LIFE OF MARY RUBY FULLER During the lifetime of Mary Ruby Fuller, there were 18 Presidents of the United States of America. She lived 4,944 weeks, or 34,698 days, or 95 years and 23 days. What kind of a country was the land of Mary Ruby's birth in 1908? Well, there were 46 states in the United States, Arizona and New Mexico were still territories. William Jennings Bryan, a Democrat, ran against William Howard Taft, a Republican, for President of the United States. Taft won. Ellis Island was already a major processing center for immigrants from abroad. Newcomers to the United States were pouring in at the rate of 1 million each year. Wealth, prosperity and opportunity flourished in many parts of the country, national confidence ran high, and new frontiers drew thousands of venturers. Sixty percent of all citizens lived in rural communities of less than 2,500 people, and Indians were confined to reservations in many places. Farming was the largest occupation, and one person out of every two belonged to a church congregation. Almost no one got divorced. Many used horse and buggy for transportation. Sugar cost 4 cents per pound, corned beef 8 cents per pound, and $2.50 bought a handsome pair of men's shoes. The term "radio" did not exist, neither did vacuum cleaner or electric toaster. There was not a single traffic light in the United States. Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States. The car was just becoming into prominence as a mode of transportation. The Olds Motor Works of Detroit had introduced their runabout model for $650. They could hardly keep up with the demand. The year Mary Ruby was born, Ford introduced the "Model T" for a price of $850. It was capable of traveling 35 miles per hour on poor dirt roads. The price was reduced as efficiencies in production were attained, until by 1914, the price was lower than $490. You could have any color you wanted as long as you wanted black. Progress exploded in the United States as Mary Ruby grew into childhood. In February 1908, the United States placed the first order for the "Wright Flyer", one of the Wright brothers first aircraft. On July 4, 1908, just 17 days before Mary Ruby was born, another air age pioneer, Glenn Curtis flew his first airplane in upstate New York. During her lifetime, she would see and experience the thrill of man flying to the moon, and returning to earth and air bus planes would routinely fly hundreds of people all around the world in a single aircraft. Aircraft and space vehicles would become instruments of war and mass destruction. By 1908, the telephone industry was well established. Hundreds of thousands of them were already in use and telephone operators were becoming common. Railroad Barron, E. H. Harriman had over 100 telephone sets in his country estate, and accused of being a slave to the telephone, he replied, "Nonsense, it is a slave to me". Wireless communication had been born, and by 1909, 300 vessels were equipped to transmit from sea to shore and vice versa. The world was changing. Sears Roebuck and Company, Montgomery Wards and Woolworths pioneered the power of consumers to buy goods where ever they lived, just a postage stamp away. Kodak made picture taking common with their Brownie camera. But war was on the horizon. On June 28, 1914 the shots were fired that led to World War I. The United States stayed neutral until 1917, but was drawn into the conflict. This was only one of two world wars during the life of Mary Ruby. Patriotism grew to be very strong in America. The nation was unified during both World War I and World War II. And America and her allies prevailed. During the twenties organized crime and corruption swept the nation. Labor movements sprang up and became a dominant force in the United States. Scandal, payoffs and rewards to special interests became common, in commerce and politics. Piggly Wiggly Food Stores introduced self service in over 500 stores and was the forerunner of todays super food stores. Door to door deliveries of bread, milk and ice became a way of life. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, J. C. Penney, General Electric, Libby's and Peter Pan became household names. Hollywood started what it has become as the orange groves of California made way for the modern day studios and the movie industry that developed. Entertainment became big business and today it is common place in most every home. Music lovers reveled in the high stepping beats of the 1920's. Big bands became commonplace, and hit tunes were introduced some that last even until now. The New Orleans sounds and jazz from black musicians established themselves in the hearts of millions of Amercians. The phenomenon of the Pentecostal experience broke out in Topeka, Kansas, on Azuza Street in Los Angeles, California and in Houston, Texas in the early 1900s. This phenomenon spread throughout America and across the world, and in 1918 when Mary Ruby was about 10 years old, a tent revival came to Ennis, Texas. She attended the revival with her mother, and her mother was baptized in Jesus Name and received the Holy Ghost. The rest of Mary Ruby's life was highly impacted by this happening. In the world of excitement around her, even on the farm, dreams were born in the eyes of Mary Ruby Dennie. She left the farm and moved to the town of Ennis, Texas at the age of 18. She acquired a job as a telephone operator with American Telephone and Telegraph Company. She lived with her Grandmother, Anne Dennie, with an Uncle and Aunt, Edgar and Grace Dennie, and an unmarried uncle, Willy Dennie. Her Great Grandmother Henry from Mexia, Texas, mother of Anne Dennie, also came to live in the same house. Close to her Grandmother's house was a Pentecostal Church that Mary Ruby began attending. She received the Holy Ghost in August of 1928 at this church. John Henry Fuller also attended this church and later became it's Pastor. He later resigned as Pastor and went to Mississippi where he stayed for about two years. L. J. Hosch became the Pastor of the Ennis church, and John Henry returned to Ennis from Mississippi, he lived in Corsicana with his parents, but again began attending the Ennis church. One Wednesday night at church, John Henry asked Mary Ruby if she would go to his brother's house, the home of Charlie and Rena Fuller, after church onthe upcoming Sunday. She told him she had to work and could not go. He told her he had a question to ask her, and she told him to go ahead and ask. He asked her if she would marry him, and she said yes. Two weeks later, Pastor L. J. Hoschperformed the ceremony and John Henry and Mary Ruby were married on March 23, 1931 in Ennis, Texas. They never actually dated before they were married. Mary Ruby kept her job with American Telephone and Telegraph Company for about two years after they were married, until she quit to have their first child, Marjorie Ann Fuller, born on July 28, 1933. John Henry and Mary Ruby maintained a close friendship with Pastor L. J. Hosch throughout their lives. John Henry evangelized at different times throughout Texas, and pastored several churches in Texas and Arkansas. Among them were: Ennis, Hillsboro, New London, Gilmer, Cedar Springs, Corsicana and Beckville, Texas, and Lou Ann, Arkansas. For a period of time in the 1940s, he traveled representing the Milford, Texas Bible School for his organization, The Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ (PA of JC). Later, John Henry was also an Ordained Minister of the successor organization, the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). In addition to their daughter, Marjorie Ann, four sons were born to Mary Ruby and John Henry. They were, Charles Thomas, born in Hillsboro, Texas, Earl Ethan, born in New London, John Paul and Robert Lynn, both born in Gilmer, Texas. In 1951, the John Henry Fuller Family moved to Dallas, Texas and began attending the Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, now located in Mesquite, Texas. John Henry retired from active pastoring, and worked for an insurance company to support his family until he retired altogether. John Henry passed away on December 18, 1980 less than four months before he and Mary Ruby would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mary Ruby was still a member of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church at the time of her death. Mary Ruby enjoyed good health over the years, and for a long period of time did not even have a regular doctor. She maintained her faith in God, and was an avid reader and student of the Bible. Her favorite scripture to quote to her family was Ephesians 4:32,"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Her legacy is that she was very careful not to speak an unkind word about any one. If she could not speak kindly and positive about someone, she simply kept silent. She is survived by: One daughter, Marjorie Ann Davis-Darling of Rockwall, Texas Four sons: Charles Fuller of Forney, Texas Earl Fuller of Forney, Texas Paul Fuller of Forney, Texas Robert Fuller of Sunnyvale, Texas and 33 Grandchildren, 39 Great-grandchildren, 3 Great-great-grandchildren, and a host of friends.