Stella LaCour

Stella LaCour, 104 years old, of Terrell, passed away peacefully on Dec. 29, 2024 with family at her side. Stella was born Sept. 19, 1920 in Vick, Louisiana to James and Mary Ann Barker, both of whom met her in Heaven along with her husband, Joseph (J.W.) LaCour, son, Justin LaCour, daughter, Linnea LaCour Templin and grandson, Cody Gunter and her eleven siblings. In her youth, Stella worked alongside her family in the cotton fields picking cotton to help out. Later, after she married J.W, she was a devoted wife and mother and her ability to make a happy home will always be a treasured memory to her family. Throughout her life, she loved her yard and gardening and Stella had an enviable skill of being able to grow anything into a vibrant plant, flower or vegetable. She loved spending time with her family and cooking them her signature specialties like chocolate sheath cake, lemon and coconut pies and strawberry cake. You could always count on Stella to have something sweet to eat and it was always delicious. One of her dishes, “Nanny’s Yams” was made by Stella for gatherings, and always without a recipe as she measured with her heart! To this day, the family is still trying to replicate the taste: getting closer but still not as good as Stella made them! After the children were older, Stella worked at Texas Aluminum on the packaging line and was later employed as a medical aide with Alexander Hospital. She also worked at Terrell State Hospital where her compassion and kindness were blessings to the patients and staff. Stella enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together, playing Bingo and was always ready for a quick trip to Shreveport! Always one to stay active, Stella loved living at the Terrell Senior Terraces where she, again, made many friends and participated in activities like water aerobics and line dancing. She often told her family that she and her dance group would be at a local long term care facility performing ‘for the elders’! At this time, she was close to 90 years old herself. Her zest for life kept her young AND young at heart. There wasn’t a day that she didn’t get dressed, put her make up on and get ready to take on the world. She will always be remembered as a ‘go getter’ and a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and great-great grandmother who was always there for her family any time they needed her. She leaves her legacy of love to be carried on by her daughters, Helma LaCour Rabal and husband, Clifford, and Betsy LaCour Petty; grandchildren: Seth Rabal, Mark Bryant, Stephanie Rabal and husband, Robert, and Cynthia LaCour; 9 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends, each of whom loved Stella very much. Funeral service will be at 2:00pm, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 at Max Slayton Funeral Chapel with her family receiving friends beginning at 1:00pm prior to service time. Interment will follow at Oakland Memorial Park where she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband, JW. For those wishing, donations may be made in memory of Stella to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/dallasnetexas

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Stella LaCour

December 29, 2024