Ruby Belle Mushrush Ehrhart

Funeral services for Ruby Belle Mushrush Ehrhart, 90, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in the Rose Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. 

Mrs. Ehrhart passed away peacefully in her sleep at 11:10 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at her home with her husband, Dorian and daughter-in-law, Lisa by her side. 

She was born November 22, 1930, at Casa Grande, Arizona, to Lige Hayden Joyce and Blanche Belle Eagleman Joyce.  On April 14, 1949, she was married at Hocomo, Missouri, to Willis Mushrush, who preceded her in death in 2012 after sixty-three years of marriage.  She was married on April 26, 2016, to Dorian Ehrhart at Mountain Home, Arkansas.  Mrs. Ehrhart was a Christian and was a member of First Baptist Church of West Plains for over sixty years.  Mrs. Ehrhart was a lifelong educator and local area businesswoman.  She held a BS in Education and Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from Drury College.  Ruby began her education career at the age of sixteen as a teacher at Stony Point School, a one room school in rural Howell County.  She spent over forty years with the West Plains School system as a teacher, middle school counselor and high school counselor.  She served as president of the southwest district of the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) from 1989-90, worked on the MSTA Resolutions Committee from 1991-94, served in all offices of the West Plains CTA, was president of the local BPW chapter from 1971-72, and was district director of the Missouri Federation of Business and Professional Women from 1972-74, a member of the Community Task Forces Board of Directors and of the Missouri School Counselors Association.  She also wrote the application for and served as the first leader of the West Plains School/Community Team.  Most of all, she was a loving wife, sister, mother and grandmother and showed by example what it means to care for family.  She often shared her passion for learning and reading with those around her.  She also enjoyed tending to flowers and plants and she had an inspiring sense of adventure and wonder about places and people. 

She is survived by her husband, Dorian Ehrhart; two sons, Willis Mushrush, Jr., and wife, Lisa and Jack Eugene Mushrush; one brother, Bill Joyce and wife, Mary Ann; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Courtney Jacobson and husband, Brian and their son, Theodore, Nathan Callahan, Heather Callahan, Erin Phillips, Zackary Wilmoth, Jacob Wilmoth and his son, Brecken, Daustin Luck, Chandler Mushrush and Nicholas Mushrush; nieces and nephews, Bobbie, Angie, Rexanna, Terry and Jon; many great-nieces and great-nephews; and a  host of cousins and friends. 

Her parents, husband, Willis Mushrush, one brother, Bobbie Joyce and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, preceded her in death.   

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Monday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Amy Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Amy Cemetery, Three Rivers Hospice or any charity of choice and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.