Ruby Leona Egbert ²

  General Notes:

Ruby Leona Egbert McKee George was caught in the Parachute Train Robbery of 1904 but did not know it.

She did not know it because she was 55 days old, it was 1 am, and she probably slept through it. Contemporary accounts say her mother Effie Egbert was also not aware it happened.

Ruby was born April 13, 1904, in Missouri. Her parents Walter and Effie were very new in Colorado having arrived in 1902. And because they were still settling in, Effie had returned to her old family home for the birth.

On the day of the robbery, June 7, 1904, mom and daughter were to travel on Denver and Rio Grande Train Number 5 and meet Walter in DeBeque. When it arrived in Parachute, it was after 1 am in the morning, all the other passengers had disembarked in Rifle.

As the train pulled out of Parachute, mom and daughter were alone except for the conductor. DeBeque was to be the next stop, except the train was stopped by Kid Curry. Unfortunately for Curry, he missed the train he intended to rob, Colorado Midlands 105, by 10 minutes. It was the train with the payroll on it.

History records that very little money was stolen, and in the next several days, a scramble to escape left Curry dead by his own bullet. He is buried in Glenwood. Or maybe South America if the alternate story is correct.

Ruby grew up in our area, the 1910 census locates her in Grand Valley. Ruby had lived in Rifle since 1925.

Ruby was lunch room supervisor for Esma Lewis Elementary. She taught a group of girls to crochet in her "Snappy Stitcher" 4H club. Her ability to teach, have patience and turn them into award winning crocheters at a young age was priceless.

Including both marriages, Ruby was married 52 years. She is buried in Rose Hill with Bill as a McKee.

Ruby married William D. McKee on 26 Dec 1925 in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado. (William D. McKee was born on 12 Feb 1900 in Oberlin, Decatur County, Kansas, died on 5 Apr 1964 in Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado.). The cause of his death was heart attack.

Ruby next married Jasper William George, son of Alfred George and Clara Vincent Noble, on 25 Sep 1971 in Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado.¹ (Jasper William George was born on 9 Dec 1901 in Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado,^{3 4} died on 18 Jun 1985 in Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado ^{3 4} and was buried in Moose Lodge Section, Rose Hill Cemetery, Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado ^{2 5}.)

  Marriage Notes:

The marriage of Jasper and Ruby was performed by George A. Flemming, minister. Their witnesses were Lawrence E Sykes and Hilda M. Sykes.