Ruth Hazel (Hilburn) Lakey, age 71, of Cassville, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas.  Mrs. Lakey, daughter of William and Lona (Richardson) Hilburn, was born on July 15, 1950, in Butterfield, Missouri.  She was a 1967 Cassville High School graduate.  Ruthie worked for Fasco Industries in Cassville for several years and subsequently went on to work for Mercy Hospital in Rogers as a Surgical Technician.  She loved life and lived it to the fullest, always having a good time wherever she went.  Some of her favorite pastimes were fishing, camping, four wheeling, and spending time with family.  Ruthie was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cassville.

Survivors include two daughters, Michelle Brigante and her husband Dennis, of Medford, Oregon, and Sabrina Boulton and her husband Sam, of San Diego, California; seven grandchildren, D.J., Nathan, Amber, Alissa, Samuel, Ashley, and Shiane; one great-grandson, Jaden; nine step-great-grandchildren; six brothers, Clyde Hilburn, Ralph Hilburn and his wife Sharon, Wayne Hilburn and his wife Becky, and Jerry Hilburn and his wife Sundra, all of Cassville, John Hilburn and his wife Brenda, of Grove, Oklahoma, and Harvey Hilburn and his wife Linda, of Wayne; two sisters, Rhoda Balch, of Cassville, and Linda Coons and her husband Steve, of Exeter; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her great-niece, Lillianna Mosqueda, of Wayne, that she raised as her own.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Sonnie Lakey; three brothers, Sammy Earl Hilburn, Charles Hilburn, and James Hilburn; and one sister, Helen Staponski.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 3, 2021, at the Russell Cemetery in Butterfield, with Pastor Kevin Hilton officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church and entrusted to the White Funeral Home, P.O. Box 890, Cassville, MO 65625.

Service arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville, Missouri.