Ruby Geraldine Frederick, known affectionately to all as Geri, departed this life on March 22, 2025, on the very day she marked her 81st birthday in Niles, Michigan—her beloved hometown where her story began in 1944. Geri’s soul was as vibrant as her name, with her kindred spirit and heartwarming smile enduring in the memories of those who knew her.
Geri was the daughter of the late David Lacy and Ruby Clark. She grew into a remarkable woman, one who learned the value of family and hard work early on and carried those lessons throughout her life. Geri spent over thirty years tending machines with diligence and pride at Simplicity Pattern, where she was more than just an employee but an integral part of the community.
Her joy for life didn’t end with her workday. Geri’s greatest pleasure came from being outdoors, her hands often covered in the earth as she cared for her animals or from touching the lives of her plants. She was a natural horsewoman, feeling most free with the wind in her hair as she rode through places like Potato Creek. Her hands, ever skilled, created warmth and beauty through her hobbies of crocheting and knitting, while her love for gatherings was evident in the laughter that echoed during backyard cookouts.
She leaves behind a legacy through her son Michael Klopfenstein; her brother, David (Sandra) Lacy Jr.; and her sister, Evelyn (Craig) Robbins, her sister-in-law Ellen, along with a circle of cherished nieces and nephews. Geri now reunites with her parents, her brother Ivan and her sister Mary in profound peace.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
In life, Geri was a woman of unwavering support, earnest friendship, and boundless energy. Her life was a testament to the joy that can be found in simplicity and love. Her memory will be treasured and kept alive in the stories told beneath the open skies she so dearly loved.
Posted On: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 3:57 PM
