RUBY ECHOHAWK

Ruby Jeanine (Fischer) Echo-Hawk was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma September 17, 1929, and she passed from this earth June 7, 2024, at a venerable age 94. As an elder, she was the last of her generation in the Fischer and Echo-Hawk families.

Her parents were Harry and Merle Fischer--prominent community citizens who ran the Fischer's Bake Rite Bakery in downtown Pawnee for many years, as a multigeneration family business. Her notable father served several terms as Mayor for the City of Pawnee, and he was elected to one term in the state legislature. During high school at PHS, Jeanine fell in love with horses-especially her horse named Ginger.

In 1947 Jeanine married Walter Roy Echo-Hawk of Pawnee, Oklahoma. They had four children-Walter, Jr., Lance, Roger and Debra. As a mother of four, Jeanine attended the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri; and in 1962 she earned a BS degree in education. Since her husband was a "fly boy" in the U.S. Air Force, the family moved to various Air Force bases where he was stationed, including bases in Puerto Rico, Missouri, North Dakota and Nebraska. After Walter was discharged in the early 1970s, they bought a farm in Holts Summit, Missouri. As an educator, Jeanine enjoyed a long and productive career as an elementary school teacher. She focused on special education and saw many former students grow into adulthood. Jeanine retired in the early 1990s and eventually moved home to Pawnee to be near family and live her golden years in the beloved community of her birth.

Jeanine had a long and rich spiritual life. As a strong Christian woman, she often helped people in need. She was the organist for various churches in Pawnee and elsewhere. During her life, she traveled widely, raised her family, loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and saw the seasons change. And then she was touched by God and returned to her Father in Heaven after a full and rich life, well-lived. She is preceded in death by her horse named Ginger, her grandparents, parents, all her uncles and aunts and cousins, a sister, her husband, one loved great-granddaughter, and many beloved in-law relatives from the Echo Hawk family. In her passing, she left behind all four children, eight grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and three great-greatgrandchildren. The family is thankful to God for Jeanine, her long life, and for the teachings and values that she left us. Her passing marks the last of her generation. May she rest in a blessed peace and be reunited with her relatives and loved ones in the heavens above