Ruth Crayne, age 86, died March 24, 2018 following a fifteen year battle with myelodysplastic syndrome. She was born Lola Ruth Barlow on March 4th, 1932 in Liberal, Missouri. She was the daughter of Fred Tiller and Cleo Yount Barlow Tiller. She graduated from Jasper High School in 1950 and lived in the Joplin – Carthage area most of her life.

She was Executive Director for the Downtown Joplin Association and previously served as Public Administrator for Jasper County. She also worked as a legal secretary for 20 years. Ruth was a member of the Church at Brookwood and later attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. She was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, and was active in P.T.A. She was a member of the Soroptomist Club and founded a Red Hat Society chapter in Carthage.


Ruth married Donald Crayne May 28, 1950, at Zion Baptist Church near Jasper, Mo. He survives. Additional survivors include a daughter, Susie Hicks and husband Bob, Joplin, two sons, Michael Crayne and wife Terri, Shawnee, KS. and David Crayne and wife Cindy, of Joplin, one brother, Jim Barlow, Seneca, Mo., 8 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren with a 14th due in May, and two great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson, Nathaniel Hicks, a great granddaughter, Christian Bickerton, a sister, Betty Gaskin, a brother in law, D. L. Gaskin and a sister in law, Mary Ann Barlow.

Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mason Woodard Chapel with Shane Munn officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Mason Woodard.

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