Becky Rinehart Langrell
Becky Rinehart Langrell, loving wife, mother, and nana, was born on May 5, 1948, and left her earthly home to receive her heavenly body, free of the struggles and pains of cancer, on September 25, 2021. She was born in Albany, New York, to Harrell D. and Cathryn (Drummond) Rinehart. Independent and strong, she spent her earlier years living throughout the U.S. as her parents and her siblings moved to follow her dad’s career in construction, including a time living in Alaska as he worked on the Alaskan Pipeline. The family moved to White Hall, Arkansas, where she graduated from High School in 1966. Her independent spirit led her to leave White Hall after graduation and leave Arkansas to work at the Kennedy Space Center located on Merritt Island, Florida. This was not something routinely done for a woman during that era and speaks to her toughness and willingness to go with where the job takes you. Eventually she moved back to Arkansas where she worked for Howard Brothers on Main Street in Pine Bluff for Steve LaFrance. She continued her career there, with Steve, as his company grew. She also worked for him at SAJ Distributors and as a bookkeeper for USA Drug on Dollarway Road, where she retired in 1999 after getting promoted to “Nana”.
She met her husband, Jim Langrell, while in High School, and while they never dated, they remained friends. When she returned from Florida they began dating and soon became sweethearts. Becky and Jim were married on May 22, 1970, and spent the next 51 years working side by side to build a life and a loving family. She was a wonderful mother and instilled her work ethic, fierce protectiveness and love into her children, Jeanie and Jodie. She was not afraid to speak her mind and she didn’t hesitate to line you out when she though it was necessary. She enjoyed spending time with her children and watching her grandchildren participate in their many activities and sports the most. Holidays were so special because she had all her family together. There will be wonderful memories of those times the family will cherish.
She loved bowling, camping, and fishing, but horses are where she and her girls found their true passion. From the time the girls were old enough to ride, Saturday nights were spent at Double L Saddle Club competing in horse shows. She loved watching them grow in the sport and learn life lessons through their competition. Eventually when her girls were in high school, she traveled all over the state of Arkansas, hauling her girls and their horses to High School Rodeos in her fourdoor cream colored Chevrolet Impala pulling a matching two-horse trailer with a tarp top. It was during this time that she became more than a “Rodeo Mom” to Jeanie and Jodie, she became “Mom” to all the high school rodeo kids, supporting them in every way she could. She was always someone the kids could count on. She was the best time-keeper and cheerleader. Her unique perspective with rodeo was something she instilled in both her girls, perspectives they carried on with their children. Becky didn’t stop with her girls and continued being that same “Rodeo Mom” with her grandchildren and other kids in High School Rodeo. She will be remembered for her hugs she gave to everyone and the fact she never met a stranger. Her life was spent supporting kids as they followed their dreams in rodeo, sports, dance and band.
She would be the first to tell you, her greatest accomplishment after marrying Jim, was becoming a Nana. Her grandchildren were her world, her pride and joy. She did everything she could to make every rodeo, football games, baseball games, softball games, dance performances and band concerts. She followed them through all their activities, just like she had done with her girls. Family was her greatest accomplishment, greatest pride, and her greatest legacy. We all need to take a page from her rules for the happiness in life; Focus on God and then your family and everything else will fall in place. She fought a tough fight and remained steadfast in her faith through all her trials and tribulations. She became a Christian, at an early age, when she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior with her Grandma Georgia, who was someone very near and dear to Becky and her girls. Grandma Georgia was a faithful Christian, even walking several blocks to church, at times, because she never learned to drive. Becky is in Glory, surrounded by her family and loved ones who have gone on before. She will be terribly missed but we know she’s in Heaven where she will be reunited with her loved ones who have also accepted Christ and what a reunion day that will be.
She leaves behind an amazing legacy of fierce love, support, and memories which her family will draw on in the coming days, weeks, months and years as they learn to follow in her footsteps and lead by the example she left. What a blessing she has been, and continues to be, to all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Jim Langrell, two daughters: Jeanie Whitehurst (Eddy) of Greers Ferry, Arkansas; Jodie Grissom (Lance) of Sheridan, Arkansas, five grandchildren: Justin Johnson, Dalton Grissom, Darbie Grissom, Jacob Whitehurst and Justin Whitehurst, two sisters: Sondra Kelly (Gary) of Sheridan, Arkansas, and Donna Rinehart Cook from Fairhope, Alabama. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews of which she adored, Connie Womack with whom she shared a friendship of 41 years, and many other family and friends who will most certainly miss her.
Funeral services will be held at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Sheridan, Arkansas, on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Visitation is at 1 p.m., with the funeral at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan, 870-942-1306.
Services for Margaret Perkins, will be held at Bowie Cemetery in Halley, Ark., on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at 1 p.m. Visitation held at Davis-Strickland Funeral Home, 605 N. Main St., Dermott, Ark., on Friday, October 1, 2021, at 12-5 p.m. Services entrusted to Davis-Strickland Funeral Home, 605 N. Main St., Dermott, Ark., 870-5389091.