Published: May 19, 2008 01:22 pm      

Betty LaRue Little

Betty LaRue Little

Jan. 24, 1927 — May 17, 2008

Betty LaRue Little, 81, of Duncan, died Saturday, May 17, 2008, in Duncan.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Clif Cummings officiating. Burial will be in Duncan Cemetery under direction of Carter-Smart Funeral Home.

Betty was born Jan. 24, 1927, in Bowie, Texas. She was co-owner of Littles Printing & Stationery. She married Kelly Little, who preceded her in death. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

LaRue left a legacy of unconditional love and generosity.

She continually gave and forgot that she left no strings attached. Those on the receiving end found that, had there been strings, they would lead back to a woman of smiling readiness to give again.

LaRue changed lives with her understanding that faith is meant to nurture and heal. To her, judgment was a foreign concept. She did not love despite flaws, she loved the flaws, too. LaRue didn’t try to change anyone. She just loved.

LaRue said in her funeral wishes that she would be happy to be buried next to her husband, who always called her his “sunshine.” The sunshine is not being buried. It is planted in the hearts of all who have known and loved her. Sharing this light and love would be the highest honor to her memory.

We will all miss LaRue, but the world is a little brighter since she’s been in it. We send our thanks to her and a promise to radiate a little of the love she kept in abundance.

Survivors include a daughter, Sandy and her husband, Jim Lane, of Duncan; grandchildren: Sara Lane-Stokes and Tom Stokes, Jeni Lane, Lindsay and her husband, Justin Speer, and Kelli Little and her partner, Kieth Price; great-grandchildren: Jefferson, Jackson and Max Frederick Speer, Taylor and Lydia; a sister, Elaine, and brother-in-law, Byram Randolph of Newark, Ohio; nieces: Debbie and Steve Cordell and family of Duncan, and Dea and Roger Shaw and family of Newark; and nephews: Rew and Susan Randolph and family of Pensacola, Fla., and Gary Hunt and family of Fort Worth, Texas.

She was also preceded in death by her parents, Jonny Rew Hodges and Willie Vesta Ridenour Hodges; her stepmother, Sadie Hodges; a great-grandchild, Matthew; and a sister, Helen Louise Hunt Carmicheal.

Bearers will be Butch Caldwell, Mike Williams, Joe Jones, John Smart, Bill Holden, Mike Kiester and Steve Pollock.

Honorary bearers are Buddy Campbell, Bob Hicks, Bob Schick, Ray Maier, Pat Sullivan, Bill Dewey, Bill Phelps, Joe Litch, and all former employees of Littles Printing.