Ruth Gaither Caffee James || Obituary

Ruth Gaither Caffee James was born June 14, 1934, in Bennington, Oklahoma, to Benjamin Oral Gaither and Jewel Weems Gaither.  She went to be with God on Sunday, November 27, 2022. Her family moved to Texas where she met her husband to be Ben Loys Caffee whom she wed October 6, 1951.  They raised four children together:  Ricky, Cathy, Benny and Jimmy until Ben’s death on February 4, 1978.  They attended many ball games and Caffee reunions through the years.

Ruth was known by several titles:  daughter, sister, wife, Mom, Granny, and one close to her heart, Sweetie.  Ruth devotedly cared for her mother, was a faithful wife, a loving mother and grandmother.  She proved to be a   valued, faithful and dependable employee at McCuistion Medical Center for nearly 40 years, and was honored with a reception upon her retirement.

She married John Earl James January 5, 1981.  She enjoyed working cattle with him, traveling, and attending Gaither, Caffee, and James reunions as well as family fellowships. Ruth accepted Christ as her Savior and was a faithful member of Petty Baptist Church where she and John ran a breakfast ministry for several years.

Ruth was devoted to her family working tirelessly for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren often hosting dinners and preparing food that she had raised and canned.   She and John often loaded up grandchildren and headed to the farm or made trips to Palestine and the Tyler Zoo.  She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchild, and they made memories.

She continues to be loved and will be deeply missed.  However, she will live on through her descendants, the stories we tell, and the memories we cherish.

Ruth is survived by her children of blood and heart:  Ricky Caffee and wife Mattie of Windom; Cathy Burris of Dodd City; daughter-in-law Terri Caffee of Windom; and Jimmy Caffee and wife Alice of Petty.  Her grandchildren:  Jacqueline (Scott) Graham; Brent Caffee, Meagan (Cody) Dillard; Mica (Jeremy) Murphey, Timothy (Hailey) White, Jessica (Derrick) Fuentes; Darcy (Joe) McPherson, Kelly (Robert) Covington; Benjamin (Kalyn) Caffee, and Jon-Marc Caffee.  Her great-grandchildren:  Mercedes Graham, Ethan Bryant, Kendra, Hayden & Emma Dillard, Colton & Aurora Murphey; Braden & Hannah Burney, Riddick and Jude Fuentes; Braxton Stanley, Kaleb, Kason, Kaydence & Kaleigh Covington; Addison, Dawson, & Hudson Caffee.  Surviving siblings:  Charline Rickman, Allen Gaither, and Marvin Gaither.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and dear friends Diane Sivley and Ruby Whitten.

She was preceded in death by her parents B.O. & Jewel Gaither, her first husband Ben Caffee and second husband John James; her son, Benny Caffee; her siblings:  Cleo Gaither, Verna Jones, Jack Gaither, Marie Roten, and Clara Belle Harris.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2022, in the chapel of Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Forest Hill Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Pall bearers are Robert Covington, Benjamin Caffee, Derrick Fuentes, Cody Dillard, Joe McPherson, and Jon-Marc Caffee.  Honorary pallbearers are:  Ricky James, Keither James, Tommy Gaither, Doyle Gaither, Claude Caffee, Roy Julian Caffee, Jeremy Murphey, and Braden Burney.