Ruby Kay Korte was born on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 to Richard and Kayla Korte and passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the age of 5 years.
She was known by her family through a variety of nicknames including “Ruby Tuesday,” “Ruby Red,” “Rainbow Ruby,” “Ru Ru,” “Ruby Avocado,” “Ruby Two Sticks,” “Ruby Doo,” “Alice,” and “Rock-n-Roll Ruby.”
As one of eight children, she found it easy to shine and had no problem making her presence known among the group. She had a particular fondness for the color red. From snuggling up with loved ones, to stomping around in her sparkly gold cowgirl boots, to dressing up and creating magical “set-ups,” Ruby Kay embraced every adventure with joy.
She spent months between birthdays planning her “second birthday.” She shared “workdays” with her Daddy, savoring his sourdough waffles and enjoyed coloring, gymnastics, dancing, and feeding the chickens and other farm friends.
She announced it was “snuggle buddy time” every night before bed and she loved to tease her parents by chanting “kiss on the lips!” There would never be enough “taco rolls,” “pizza Fridays,” or bike rides.
Ruby Kay helped care for her baby siblings, you’d often find her packing a baby on her hip with a big smile and she’d refuse to hand the baby off. She could talk your ear off and was in constant chatter playing with her brother William. Sometimes she would only cooperate if her “buddy V” or “my Biley” (Violet) assisted.
Ruby was a joyful parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church, the Steelville Homeschool Co-op and a new member of Oak Hill 4-H Club.
Her favorite characters were from Frozen, the Grinch and Trolls. She could often be found belting out the song, “It’s a Hard Knock Life” after telling Mom to say, “What’s a hard knock life?” so she had the perfect lead-in to burst into song. She enjoyed falling asleep to the lull of the rosary being prayed with her family.
She was preceded in death by her great grandparents, Joseph Medwick II, Leslie Echols, Richard and Marilyn Korte, Shelvie Ryan and Terrance Ryan; great uncles, Fr. William Korte, Ralph Korte and Steve Korte.
She is survived by her parents, Richard and Kayla Korte; siblings Sophia, Violet Mae, June, William, Lucille Belle, Perla Dove and Everett, all of Steelville, Missouri; “big sisters,” Raylynn Belle Henson and Alexis Lea; grandparents, Joe and Angie Medwick of Cuba, Missouri, Walter Korte (Taleta Diaz) of Steelville, Missouri and Stacie (Roger) Stewart of Owensville, Missouri; great grandparents, Kay (Hubert) Pascoe of Dade City, Florida, Connie Echols (Charlie Yowell) of Cuba, Missouri and Amy Ryan of Kansas City, Missouri; aunts and uncles, Katrina Korte (Jake Travis), William Korte (Kayla Baum), Maryanne Korte, Alexandra (Neal) Grogan and Jenna (Jesse) Mills; great aunts and great uncles, Casilda (Joe) Kekeisen, Cathy (Mark) Buncher, Virginia (John) Watson, Mike (Rose) Korte, and Greg Echols; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 with the rosary service at 7 p.m. at Mizell Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba, Missouri.
Funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 Holy Cross Catholic Church in Cuba, Missouri with Fr. Mark Smith, Fr. Noah Waldman and Fr. Tony Onyeihe, as the celebrants.
Private graveside service followed at St. Michael Cemetery in Steelville, Missouri. A luncheon, at the First Assembly of God Church in Steelville, Missouri, followed.
Arrangements under the direction of the Mizell Funeral Home & Crematory in Cuba, Missouri.
