Rueple Belle Herin (Crews)
aka "Little Toughie"
January 24, 1927 – May 27, 2025

Rueple was born January 24, 1927 in Neosho, Missouri to Walter Arthur Crews and Sarah Elizabeth Jefferson Crews. She lived independently in her own home in Neosho until 2023. She remained in the area until her health failed and she moved to Overland Park, Kansas on February 3, 2025 to be closer to her daughter. Rueple passed away on May 27, 2025 at the age of 98 years.

Rueple attended Meeks School, a one room schoolhouse in rural Newton County, Missouri for her elementary grades and graduated from Neosho High School.

Rueple married Charles Mottier Herrin Jr. in Bentonville, Arkansas on June 24, 1944. They were married for nearly 75 years and Rueple was devoted to caring for Charles the last few years of their marriage as his health declined.

They spent several years moving throughout the South as Charles worked on oil pipelines. Rueple enjoyed sharing how she could pack up their few belongings and set up house again in their new location in record time.

When they returned to Neosho, Rueple and Charles operated Herrin Grocery (situated in a half mess hall building that they bought from Camp Crowder) for about ten years. Rueple was never afraid of hard work and whether it was greeting customers at the counter, pumping gas or overhauling the motor on a meat cutter, she was up to the task.

When the store closed, Rueple devoted herself to her daughter, Labeta "Susie" Herrin, her husband and her beloved Oakwood Christian Church where she was a very "hands on" member for many years. She worked tirelessly alongside Charles assisting with church maintenance, construction and expansion. She was a wonderful homemaker, seamstress, plumber, electrician, roofer, etc. She was willing to do any type of hard work and loved staying busy. It is unclear who nicknamed her "Little Toughie" but, without question, she rightly earned it. Charles and she could often be seen on their his and hers riding mowers, well into their 80's, mowing the lawn together. Charles had a shopful of power tools and Rueple knew how to operate all of them. She had a knack for coming up with creative ways to make broken things work again.  She was a wonderful gardener and loved growing vegetables, especially to share with neighbors, or to can in order to help with the grocery bills and feed the family in the leaner months of winter. She grew the most gorgeous gladiolas in her flower gardens and enjoyed sewing beautiful clothes for her family.

Rueple was happiest when telling stories about her past and any one she met would soon learn about her life and her interesting past. She was very interested in native American history and avidly researched her family genealogy. Though she was never able to substantiate that she was part Native American, she always believed in her heart of hearts that it was so and carried it proudly.

She is survived by her daughter, Labeta "Susie" Herrin of Overland Park, Kansas (Andrea); two nieces: Beverlie Wilson (Jimmy) of Neosho and Glenda Livingston of Goodman, Missouri and Diane Marble (Neosho) and many nieces and nephews. Rueple is survived by a number of relatives of her late husband, including brother-in-law Doyle Herrin (Jeri), nieces Victoria Herrin, Christie Herrin, Stanley Herrin and Ann Galasi.

A debt of gratitude to cousins Anna Moore and Angela Duncan who were so helpful in providing caregiving guidance during difficult times, to Home Instead of Joplin who assisted Rueple to remain living independently in her home as long as possible, and to the compassionate caregivers of Garden Terrace of Overland Park and Good Shepherd Hospice who provided comfort and support to Rueple in her final days and weeks. Special mention and deepest thanks to Rueple's devoted caregiver Sandy Owen, who always went above and beyond to take care of all of Rueple's needs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles M. Herrin Jr. of Neosho; her parents, Walter Arthur Crews and Sarah Elizabeth Jefferson Crews of Neosho; her sisters: Kathryn Marble, Retha Johnson and infant sister Gertrude Elizabeth Crews; and by her nephew Gerald Marble..

Her hope, one that she repeated often, was that she wanted to live to the age of 100. Although she defied predictions that she would not survive after several medical crises over the past few years, "Little Toughie" finally succumbed at age 98 and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.