Do-Tell: Hear the Corn Grow

A true story beginning with a small boy "growing up" with his family in the bone-hard depression days of the 1930s. From a shambled hilltop home, above Wild Horse Creek, and meager farm existence , from simple pleasures to boyish heartbreaks, to warm family relationships, to a young man in World War 2 service in the U.S. Merchant Marine, and finally to the steps of Corpus Christi Church for the beginning of a new chapter of life.

Ray Ruby, one of eleven children, was born in Overland, Missouri. In August 1929 he, with his family, moved to a rocky hill farm on Wild Horse Creek Road, in Chesterfield, Missouri. He sailed as an Able Seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marines on a freighter, Liberty Ship and T-2 tankers in World War II. He married Jane Hanebrink in 1947 and they have eight children, seventeen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. After retiring from a 43 year banking career, he and Jane travelled extensively and now reside in Jonesburg, Mo.