Rubye Kathleen Austin McVey

Rubye Kathleen (Austin) McVey was born on February 4, 1934 in Scotts Hill, TN, the daughter of Albert C. Austin and Mae Creasy Austin. She had 13 brothers and sisters that she loved dearly. Kathy graduated from Scotts Hill High School in 1952, and after graduation her adventurous spirit and courageous heart led her from West Tennessee to Washington, D.C., working for the FBI in the secretarial pool.

In D.C., she met her future husband, William (Bill) R. McVey of St. Louis, MO, a Navy Airman. They were the parents of 5 children, Jeff McVey, Terry McVey, Pat McVey Brock, Lori McVey (Lieber), and Bobby McVey.

Kathy was extremely proud of her four grandchildren, Shelby Kathleen McVey, Peyton Joy McVey, 2LT Curt Andrew Lieber, and Macy Grace McVey.

Marrying into the military meant a life of moving every 1-3 years, with time spent in multiple locations, including San Francisco (CA), Corpus Christi (TX), Kodiak Island (AK), and New York City (NY). During this time as a Navy (and later Coast Guard) wife, she was mother, caregiver, chief cook, spiritual leader, nurturer, physical therapist and logistics specialist for the family.

Church was always one of the foundations that Kathy relied on both for her life and for her family. No matter what city or state they were in, she always found a church for them to be a part of, and she made sure that she was teaching Sunday School every week.

After military retirement, she was critical support for her husband as he pursued advanced degrees in education both at Freed-Hardeman and at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. During this time, Kathy attended both schools part-time while working full-time positions, supporting her husband and children.

She was not one to sit for very long, so her life was filled with many interests. Kathy loved sewing, photography, birds (especially hummingbirds) and gardening. Her friends, family and neighbors benefitted greatly from her love of gardening.

During her life, she not only worked at the FBI, but she also worked at whatever was available to best provide for her family. Her favorite occupation was taking care of young children. The relationships that she built with the children in her care, as well as their parents, were sustaining for her after Bill passed away in 1991.

Having traveled the nation, Kathy’s love for her birthplace and siblings led her back to the farm in Scotts Hill, where she moved in the fall of 1991, living out the rest of her years there.

The McVey children wish to express that they could not have had a better mother, and they wish to thank all of her friends and family for their love and support at this time.