Ruben Eugene Essary, 77, of Kalkaska died Wed, evening, Feb 23, 2005, at the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center - Long Term care unit, after a short illness.
He was born Jun 9, 1927 in Hamlin (Plasterco), TX, to George Washington Essary and Celia Jane (Ewing) Essary. At age 17 he joined the US navy and served in the Marshall Islands on Roy Namur near the end of WWII.
In 1947, in Lubbock, TX, Ruben married Marceline Glasscock, who survives. He became a lineman with the telephone company, then an electrician with Lubbock Power and Light. It was in Lubbock that he built his first home.
After transferring to Denver City, TX, where he once again built a family home, he worked as an electrician for Shell Oil Co, eventually transferring to Quanah, TX, where he built another home - this time with the help of his growing family of six girls.
In 1972, Ruben was transferred to Kalkaska, where he helped oversee the construction of the Shell Oil facility in northern Michigan. In 1973, he purchased POSCO Oilfield Services in Kalkaska and worked as an oilfield consultant with Federated Natural Resources of Traverse City. He eventually "retired" from the oilfield, but continued as a consultant throughout his later years.
Ruben became a private pilot in 1980 when he purchased his first plane. He and Marceline often flew to see family as well as travel to new places. His love of aviation and travel has been passed to many others in his family.
Other interests included rock hunting and polishing, fishing, building, and above all, spending tiem with family and friends. Ruben was a very "handy" person, who could fix or make just about anything. He also loved music and was comforted as his family sang his favorite old hymns.
Besides his wife of 57 years, Marceline, Ruben is survived by their six daughters, Kay (Bob) Nelson of Elk Rapids, Cheryl (Randall) Ryan of Childress, TX, Pam (Kenneth) Horton of Quanah, TX, Melissa (Tim) Leftwich of Albuquerque, NM, Terry (David) Babcock of Kalkaska, and Kim (Michael) Babcock of Kalkaska.
he counted his 24 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren, who all survived, as special blessings. Other survivors include his sister, Ollie McWright of Mabank, TX; Mozelle Mercer of Rotan, TX; and Bob Essary of Cedar Hill, TX.
He was a member of the Kalkaska Church of Christ where he served many years as an elder, until his retirement. He was "Pa-Pa" not only to his grandchildren and great grandchildren and their firends, but also to neighbor children and church children.
Services were held Feb 26 at the Kalkaska Church of Christ in Kalkaska. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wolfe Funeral Home of Kalkaska.
