Ola LaPointe

A memorial service for Ola Jean LaPointe, 78, of Gassville will be at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, November 2 at Kirby-Boaz Funeral Home. Mrs. LaPointe died Sunday, October 29, 2006. Ola Jean LaPointe was born September 23, 1928, at Cotter, Arkansas, to William and Helen Jenkins Mefford. She lived most of her life in this area and graduated from Cotter High School where she played basketball. She married Eugene LaPointe who passed away in 1997. Mrs. LaPointe was a hotel manager. She played basketball and was invited to be a member of the Redheads All-American basketball team. She was a member and former State Grand President of Cooties, a life member and Department of Arkansas historian of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and enjoyed helping disabled veterans. Mrs. LaPointe was a former leader of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and taught Sunday School in several Baptist churches. She enjoyed camping, crossword puzzles, bowling, dancing and music. She was of Baptist faith. She is survived by three daughters, Rebecca (John) McCune of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jackie (John) Barnhill of Mountain Home, and Leigh Johnston of Gassville; three sons, Lester Rider of Gassville, James (Martha) Rider of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Thomas (Sharon) Rider of Manteca, California; 16 grandchildren, Stacy, Kathryn, Joseph, Becky, Cindy, Joe, James, Heather, Matt, Noah, Tianna, Alex, Jacob, Michelle, John Thomas, and Khaile; and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, one daughter and one son. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Ozarks.