Joseph Braxton L Rue Jr , November 11, 1943 — April 29, 2018

Joseph Braxton LaRue Jr. was born in Springfield, Missouri on November 11, 1943 and died April 29, 2018. He did many things in his lifetime, including owning a shoe repair shop, a Bible bookstore, pastoring a church, and starting and administrating a Christian school. If you were to ask him what the two most important things to him were, he’d say the first is his relationship with Jesus.

He was unashamed to share the gospel with anyone who’d listen, and especially those who wouldn’t. He studied the Word of God with passion and determination. He had very nearly memorized the entire Bible.

Even after 25 years of blindness, he could tell you what book, chapter, and (most times) verse of whatever topic you were trying to find. He was his family’s concordance. He’d say the second most important thing to him is his family.

Having been an only child, it was always his desire to have a large family. He succeeded. He married Gwendolyn Lorris Childs on April 16, 1965, he was 21 and she was 19.

They gave birth to five children but touched the lives of so very many more. J.B. loved kids, he especially loved teaching, nurturing, and encouraging them. He was a very good father.

We are confident He heard from the Lord what he most desired to hear, “Well done My good and faithful servant”. He is survived by: wife, Gwen LaRue; children, Dan and Christi (LaRue) Linehan, Mark and Kellye (LaRue) Spangler, Jack and Karla (LaRue) Bevers, Jason and Christie LaRue, Jeremy and Denise LaRue; grandchildren, Grace Linehan, Faith Linehan, Hope Linehan, Cody and Becca Spangler, Hunter Spangler, Wyatt Spangler, Kourtney Bevers, Baylie Bevers, Kasye Bevers, Logan LaRue, Jasie LaRue, Brack LaRue, Morgan Baggett, Madison Baggett, Macy LaRue, Rosie LaRue, and Georgia LaRue. And, he is survived by the numerous others whom he loved and cared for like his own children.

Visitation will be held at Emerald Hills Funeral Home Thursday May 3, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Emerald Hills Funeral Home and burial will be at Emerald Hills Memorial Park.

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