Ruby Kelly Cowherd

View Funeral WebcastRuby Kelly Cowherd, 81, well-known Columbia business woman, died Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at her residence on Apache Trail. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Carl Duck and Steve Oliver officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Pet Pals of Maury County, P.O. Box 1623, Columbia, TN 38402. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Joe Brunner Kelly and Fannie McClure Kelly. She was formerly married to Clayton Gemmell and later to Freeman Cowherd. During her career she owned Ally Oop Restaurant, Hillview Restaurant, Gibson Appliance Center, Stan's Restaurant in Spring Hill, and Spring Hill Liquors. She was a member of American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and former member of La Societe De Femme . She was a member of West End Baptist Church. Ms. Cowherd was a very loving "people person" who loved animals and flowers and never met a stranger. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Gemmell of Columbia, Donna (Steve) Oliver of Lavergne; sister, Marie Dawson of Birmingham, Alabama; two step-grandchildren, Jennifer Branch of Brentwood and Derek Oliver of Smyrna; and her beloved pet dogs, Dixie and Mama Dog. She was preceded in death by a sister, Mattie Potts and five brothers, Howard Kelly, Herman Kelly, Frazier Kelly, Carl Kelly and Huey Kelly. Pallbearers will be Ron Kelley, Loyd Anderson, Larry Peach, Abner Alley, Doug Kelly and Galen Pierce. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Gemmell, George Jones, Derek Oliver, Earl Pettus, Bob Branch, Freddie Goodman, Dr. Paul Perryman and members of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.