Ruby Evelyn Ekey

Ruby Ekey, 93, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on August 6, 2026. Ruby Evelyn Neal was born on March 1, 1933, in Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, to Leroy Conrad and Georgia Jordan Neal. Ruby graduated from Hays High School in Hays, Kansas, in 1951. After attending Fort Hays Kansas State College (now Fort Hays State University), she married Doyle Gereth Ekey on June 6, 1953, in Hays, following their sophomore year. Before Doyle’s death on December 1, 2021, they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.

One of Ruby’s favorite hobbies was quilting, and over the years she made more than one hundred quilts of various sizes. She and Doyle began researching their family histories in 1995, and their research took them to libraries, courthouses, and cemeteries in many states.

Ruby was a beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many. She was her children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s biggest supporter, always cheering them on in their endeavors. Ruby and Doyle were longtime members of the Church of the Nazarene in Topeka, Kansas.

Ruby is survived by her daughters, Sondra Ekey (Jim Moeder) of Topeka, Kansas, and Cynthia Helblig of Tempe, Arizona; two grandchildren, Allison (Jon) Baugues of Cornelius, North Carolina, and Drew Helblig of Mesa, Arizona; and two great-grandchildren, Evan and Gwen Baugues, who called her “GG.” She is also survived by her brother, Dean Neal of Kings Park, New York; her sister, Barbara Cockrell of Deltona, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Doyle Ekey; her parents; and two brothers, Dennis Neal and Kenneth Neal.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 17, 2026, at Falconer Funeral Home, 251 W. Juniper Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85233. Burial will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 (hov.org/donate).

The family is grateful to the dedicated staff at Acoya Assisted Living and Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care of Ruby.