Mary Ruby Donley died Nov. 6, 2018, in Redlands, California. She was 86.
Born in Galveston, Texas, to William and Arneta Sweeney, Donley graduated high school at the age of 16 and attended Prairie View A&M in Texas. She met her late and beloved husband Clifford (“Buddy”) Donley Sr. at Prairie View, where she earned a degree in education.
After graduation, Donley and her husband moved from Texas to Kake, Alaska, where they taught Tlingit schoolchildren. In the 1950s, Donley and her family moved from Kake to Seattle where she raised her children and taught elementary school for more than 30 years. She earned her master’s degree in education from Seattle University in 1969.
She enjoyed traveling as an active member of the Toastmistress Organization and was an avid ballroom dancer with Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Donley is survived by her son, Clifford Donley, Jr., her daughters Irene Donley-Kimble, Marilyn Muhammad and Florence Grimes (deceased), and loving grand- and great-grandchildren. Services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, at First AME Church, 1522 14th Ave., Seattle. Condolences may be directed to 703 Brookside Ave., Redlands, CA 92373.