Jan. 21, 1921 – Dec. 16, 2013

NATCHEZ— Graveside services for Virginia Ruth Stacy, 92, of Natchez, who died Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at her residence, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, in Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery.

Burial will be under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Stacy was born Jan. 21, 1921, in Big Heart, Okla., the daughter of Lige Roberson and Ester Case Roberson.

She purchased a gas station in Tate Cove, La., that she ran for four years prior to moving to Natchez. During that time, she sold the most gasoline nationwide. During the war years, she would leave the station every afternoon to work for the Civil Defense as a plane spotter. She climbed her tower daily without fail and became very involved supporting the troops.

She met Roland “Pee Wee” Stacy in the oil fields and they married in 1941. In 1945, they moved to Natchez from Eunice, La. and opened an oil field contracting business. Ruth was partner and office manager.

She continued to travel to Eunice, keeping books for her father, Lige, while managing to keep the Natchez business successful. She was very involved in politics, being a founding member of the Adams County League of Women Voters. Her interest in politics blossomed and she became a member of the Republican Party before it “was cool”.

In 1957, she had a huge interest in quarter horses and became very supportive of the new industry in Mississippi. Ruth and “Pee Wee” raised and bred several champion horses. She was also involved in the Black Angus and Cattle Association. She was a member of the Cow Belles of Adams County. In the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association, she became a director and had the honor of becoming vice president emeritus M.Q.H.A.

She was a member of the Natchez Garden Club and Jefferson Street Methodist Church. Entertaining friends and customers was a pleasure for her as she had a myriad of friends all over the United States.

Stacy was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Dora June Dupuis, two brothers-in-law, Victor Dupuis and Perry Joe Stacy; and two sons-in-law, Clyde Rodriquez and Bill Koonce.

Survivors include two daughters, Joanne Daige Koonce and Barbara Ruth Rodriguez; grandchildren, Stacy Daige Strong, Darrell Daige and wife, Lisa, Alan Daige and wife, Cindy, Dustin Owen and wife, Jackie, and Keith Owen and wife, Stacy; great-grandchildren, Cole Strong, Carrie Strong Wellborn, Claire Daige Beard, Taylor Daige, Parker Daige, Codie Owen, Kalyn Owen, Skylar Owen, MacKenzie Owen, and Beau Owen; several great-great-grandchildren; nephews, Bryan Stacy and Lige Dupuis; nieces, Denise Milligan, Debbie Penton and Courtney Taylor; and close family friends, Caroline W. Doughty and Gretchen Gulman.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Daige, Alan Daige, Dustin Owen, Garlend Randall, Bradford D. Hall, Everette Ratcliffe, Lige Dupuis and Charles Garrity.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bryan Stacy, Johnny Junkin, Ronnie Fleming, Jason Dauphin, Phil Vasser, David Howell, Tom McBeath and M.Q.H.A. officers and members.

Special thanks to the staff of Hospice Compassus, Angel Ann, Hazel, Lorraine, Lucille, Mandy and Pam.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society or Jefferson Street Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.