Ruby Herbst's Obituary
Ruby Lee Herbst, daughter of Floyd and Alma Lucille Humphrey Laird, was born October 29, 1939, in Portageville, Missouri, and departed this life on November 23, 2010, in her home near Mansfield, Missouri, at the age of seventy-one years and twenty-four days. She was united in marriage to Leonard John Herbst on January 2, 1958, and to this union three children were born. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard, on December 7, 1985; and three brothers, Bobby, Billy and Tommy Laird. She is survived by one son, Terry Herbst and his wife, Alicia, of Flippin, Arkansas; two daughters, Elaine Rhodes and her husband, Jack, and Debra Berry and her husband, Lemuel, all of Mansfield, Missouri; five grandchildren, John Rhodes and his wife, Amy, Joe Rhodes and wife, Ashley, Drew Berry and his wife, Shona, Quentin Berry, and Jessica Berry; six great-grandchildren, Kara, Shelbi and Benner Rhodes, Levi Walker, Hunter and Logan Rhodes; three sisters, Betty McKeel and her husband, Bob, of Mansfield, Missouri, Shirley Garner and her husband, Dale, of Monett, Missouri, and Janet Carroll and her husband, Howard, of Labadie, Missouri; two brothers, Raymond Laird and his wife, Gail, of Sikeston, Missouri, and Don Laird of Belleville, Illinois; many nieces and nephews as well as other relatives and many friends. Ruby grew up in the ?Missouri Bootheel? and graduated from Risco High School in the Class of 1957. She and Leonard started their family in the St. Louis area, and in 1965 they moved to Mansfield where Leonard began working for Ken Ballew Hatchery. Ruby stayed at home raising the kids until they were all in school. She then began work outside of the home working at the Mansfield Head Start and then went to work at Ken Ballew Hatchery until it closed. Leonard and Ruby then started Herbst Poultry Incorporated. After Leonard passed away she continued with the poultry business until retiring. In her spare time, Ruby loved reading, fishing and gambling. Ruby was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories.
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