Say a prayer for Sue Crews, she will be missed

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Brenda Brooks bjbpugs@aol.com
It is with the heaviest of heart that I post this message.  A good many of you in the Central Division may know Sue, and for sure those of you in the OCER will.  Sue Crews died today from injuries she suffered Wednesday when she fell off her horse.  Those of you that knew her know that she was the kindest and most generous person you could ever hope to meet.  She leaves behind a 19 yr old son and 17 yr old daughter, please say a prayer for these 2 children, who now have to grow up so fast. She was my best friend, she introduced me to the sport we love, she kept me from going crazy when I hit some hard times.  We were closer than sisters.  She will be greatly missed.

Now for those of you that want the details, here they are.  I post these because I know that Sue would want this warning to go out again.  It will rekindle the helmet or no helmet issue but if one life can be spared because of it, then that's a start.

Sue ALWAYS rode wearing a helmet.  Except Wednesday morning.
She had gone to the Eminence Cross Country Trail Ride for the week, this was her annual vacation.  Apparently Wed AM, she was at camp just trying out a new saddle, exact details are unclear but she fell off the horse (it may have reared slightly or sidestepped but did not buck).  She fell backwards and hit the back of her head on one of our famous Ozark rocks.  If she had been out on the trail she would have had the helmet on, but it was just a quick get up in the new saddle to see if she liked it. I am sure she did not think there was any danger at all.
Most of us probably would have thought just like she did.

She was conscious at least at first but by the time she was air lifted to the hospital in Springfield, she was unconscious and never regained consciousness.  The actual medical details are unimportant, we all know what happens when you have a bad head injury.  The Sue we all knew and loved probably left us before today.  She was only 50 yrs old.  She was the ride manager for the Crews-n-the Bar K ride, held in Chadwick, MO in April.  Next year she had so much wanted to just be a participant so she could enjoy a ride on her home turf instead of the craziness that goes with being the ride manager.

A freak accident, yes.  Would a helmet have made a difference? You bet.  Would she have still been injured? Maybe.  Would she still be alive today?  Most assuredly.  So for those of you that waiver on the helmet issue or those of you that know someone that you want to get to wear a helmet, tell them this story.  It may or may not help but if it saves one life, then maybe Sue can still help someone.  She had the biggest heart in the whole world and I know that she would want this warning to go out.  

She ALWAYS wore her helmet, except this one time.  It only takes one freak accident to maim, cripple or kill you.  

Brenda Brooks
OCER member and Sue's best friend