Gracie Anne Ruyle

Obituary

Gracie Anne (Depratt) Ruyle, 51, of Downers Grove, Illinois, died at home of metastatic breast cancer on September 12, 2026.

She was born July 10, 1975, to Bobbee (Songer) Hawkins and Larry Depratt. Gracie and her older brother Matthew were raised in Catlin, IL, by their mother and grandparents, R.L. and Jeane Songer, surrounded by an extended family that grew to include Gregg Hawkins and his children, Haley and Jesse. Those relationships forever shaped what family would mean to her.

In 1993, Gracie graduated from Catlin High School and then attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she studied Television Production and Women’s Studies. Gracie met Brooks Ruyle when they worked at WSIU, the university's public television station. She asked Brooks to help with a class project and he managed to turn that into dinner. They spent most of their time outside of school and work together before marrying in October 2000, and settling in Downers Grove.

In life, Gracie and Brooks were partners and best friends. They shared tastes in music, movies, television, food and culture. Most of all, they genuinely enjoyed being together. A letterpress print in their home says it simply: “WE ARE SO GOOD TOGETHER.”

Gracie's career began in 1998 at WICD Channel 15 in Champaign, creating promotions and directing morning newscasts. She later worked as a video editor in Chicago. She was creative, hardworking and reliable and understood what a job needed from her. She had a habit of becoming exceptionally good at whatever she did, a work ethic that started early, detasseling corn as a teenager in the fields surrounding Catlin.

But more than anything, Gracie wanted to be a mother. Becoming parents took perseverance, making the arrival of Will Songer in 2006, Grayson Robert in 2010 and Zoe Jeane in 2013 all more meaningful. Gracie stepped away from her career to focus on raising her children and embraced those years completely. She gave them her time and attention, filling their early years with outings, activities and volunteering at their school. She'd attend games, performances, marching band and whatever else interested them and shared their activities using a hashtag that reflected one of her great joys: #LoveToWatchThemPlay. Nothing made Gracie prouder than her children.

In 2019, Gracie joined the Kids Room at the Downers Grove Public Library where countless families came to know her as Miss Gracie. She led storytimes, created programming, crafted decorations, visited preschools, and facilitated the library’s Girls Who Code program. As with everything, Gracie excelled. Her enthusiasm, creativity and genuine interest in each child made her a favorite of families and coworkers alike.

Gracie was intelligent, sharp, funny, creative, outspoken and effortlessly cool. She had great style, and a deeply held sense of what's right. She was a gifted storyteller who knew even a true story could occasionally benefit from a little editing in the retelling. She was incapable of allowing a silence in conversation to linger long and often filled those spaces, and many others, with humor, wisdom and laughter.

She made friends through every chapter of her life. She was empathetic, generous, and fiercely supportive of the people she cared about. She had a way of making someone feel they had her complete attention because, at that moment, they absolutely did.

She loved the beach, and oysters on the half shell which were best when they came from Captain Curt’s. She knew what made a good playlist and preferred live music in small venues. She loved Monical’s pizza with their Sweet & Tart French dressing, a cup of lemon from Custard Cup, and her grandmother’s recipes including fluffy pineapple cheesecake and hot chicken salad, always part of family gatherings.

Gracie is survived by her husband and best friend, Brooks; their children, Will, Grayson and Zoe; brother, Matthew Depratt; stepfather, Gregg Hawkins; sister, Haley (Joe) Miller; brother, Jesse (Abbey) Hawkins; mother-in-law, Amy Ruyle; brother-in-law, Clayton Ruyle; nieces and nephew Lucille, Scarlett, Leonard, Sutton, Eloise, Emerson and Sloane; as well as a large extended family and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Bobbee Hawkins; grandparents R.L. and Jeane Songer and Virginia Cherry; and father-in-law, Robert Ruyle.

Gracie’s life was far too short, and she leaves an enormous space in the lives of those who loved her. So much of her time, attention, humor, confidence and love went into helping Will, Grayson and Zoe become who they are. She was immensely proud of them, and so much of Gracie continues with them.

Memorial Fund

The Downers Grove Public Library held a special place in Gracie’s life, first as a mother bringing her own children to the library and later as a member of the Kids Room team, where countless families came to know her as “Miss Gracie.”

The Miss Gracie Memorial Fund has been established to honor that connection and continue Gracie’s support of the library, its children and families, and the community she cared so much about.

Learn more or make a donation to the Miss Gracie Memorial Fund.

Memorial Service