The Life of LaRue Adkins
E. LaRue Adkins was born in Coleman, TX July 28, 1940 and is preceded in death by her father James Gray Laughlin, mother Mary Lanora Craig-Laughlin, and her step-father Al Roberts. LaRue is survived by her husband of 60 years, Leonard Adkins, sister MJ Laughlin, and brother James Laughlin Jr. She is also survived by her daughter Traci Adkins, son Todd Adkins and his wife Angela. LaRue is survived by her four beloved grandchildren: Bailey, John, Lauren and Cal.
Growing up in West Texas, LaRue dreamed of being a cowgirl. She loved books, novels, plays, songs, and movies depicting the life of the Old West. LaRue loved to sing, dance, write poetry, tell stories, read, garden, and was known for her legendary apricot cobbler. She loved Texas and was a library of information regarding state wildlife, minerals, rocks, gemstones, flowers, trees, foliage, birds, insects, and Texas history. She was the Google of her time on many subjects, before there was Google.
After graduating from McCamey High School, LaRue met her husband, Leonard "Lefty" Adkins while on a double-blind date. At that time, Lefty was a student at Oklahoma State University (formerly Oklahoma A&M) and working a summer job in the nearby oil fields of West Texas. LaRue and Lefty were married January 17, 1958 and moved to Alpine, TX to attend Sul Ross University.
LaRue graduated from Sul Ross University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She and Lefty moved to Midland, TX to begin her new job as a school teacher. This would launch a career path dedicated to as an educator, counselor, and an advocate of children and adults of all ages. She was the first person in her family, on either side, to graduate from a college or university. Education was extremely important to LaRue and she excelled at all levels of education. LaRue and her family attended North A and Tennessee Church of Christ while in Midland.
In 1971, LaRue and her family moved to Dallas, TX. It would be her home for the next 47 years. LaRue taught in DISD schools until 1977 when she accepted a job at Dallas Christian School as a language arts teacher. During her time at Dallas Christian, LaRue served as a middle school and high school cheerleader sponsor, literary meet director, student council sponsor, homeroom mom, director of the senior play, National Honor Society sponsor, girls Bible class teacher, and all while being a "parent volunteer" for her two children.
Although she had love for all of her students, LaRue did have her list of “deadly sins” and whoa to those who committed any of these: being late to class, turning in assignments late, using spiral paper for a book report, misuse of good vs. well in a sentence (a burrito tastes good but if you eat too much you will not feel well), over use of commas, inability to recite the helping verbs in order, not reading directions, inability to diagram a sentence, ending a sentence in a preposition, messy penmanship, misspelled words, and using the word “ain’t.” If you were one of LaRue’s students and you corrected other’s grammar, she is smiling down from heaven saying, “Well done my child.”
Besides this list of deadly sins, other unforgivable transgressions involved bad mouthing any of the following: the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, Charlie Waters or Tony Dorsett. Plus, never call her when she is watching an episode of CSI, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Seinfeld, or Everyone Loves Raymond.
While teaching full time at Dallas Christian, LaRue earned a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling in the spring of 1983 from East Texas State University. She served as the high school counselor at Dallas Christian from 1981 - 1987 and taught psychology. LaRue touched the lives of many students and prepared them for their career and/or education paths after graduation. She inspired her students to discover their talents and develop them to the fullest.
In 1998, LaRue began teaching at Eastfield College. She developed a new curriculum and course, “Career and Professional Development.” The course became the gold standard for decades as a template for training throughout the Dallas Community College Districts. Her students were empowered with the skills and confidence to give public presentations, communicate in business settings, manage projects individually and in small groups, create a resume, set short term and long-term goals, how to prepare and execute a successful job interview, deal with conflict in the work place and home, how to use body language for non-verbal communication, and time management skills. LaRue would work at Eastfield until 2006.
Outside of her career as an educator and counselor, LaRue was very involved with her church family at White Rock Church of Christ. LaRue participated in and organized benevolence projects, went on mission trips to Mexico, supported missionary families, cared for those in need, brought food to those who were ill or experienced loss, supported student preachers and their family, was involved in community outreach programs, contributed to and proof read the church bulletin, counseled members, and devoted her time in supporting Medina Children's Home near Bandera, TX. She also taught VBS, Ladies Bible Class, and Sunday School. She was a highly respected guest speaker for women’s retreats and special event trainings. LaRue's involvement at church was valued by all. She was reliable and ready to serve, helping countless people without public recognition or accolades. To her church family, LaRue was a servant to all, a voice of hope, a heart of compassion, and a rock in times of need.
One of LaRue's main passion, was gardening. Over the years, she transformed the church grounds with flowers and landscaping. If she wasn't working in the church garden, she could be found working in her garden at home. Gardening gave LaRue a way to express herself, relax, and connect with the beauty of God's creation; except Crabgrass which was a nemesis in her garden.
LaRue Adkins lived a full life as an empowered woman, wife, mother, counselor, and spiritual teacher. Respected and loved by her family, students, colleagues, community, and church family, she leaves behind a legacy of helping others reach their full potential. LaRue will be missed by all and cherished by those whose lives she touched.
The family of LaRue Adkins respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, to donate to "Arms of Hope" - Medina Campus (formerly known as Medina Children's Home). Please use this link: http://www.armsofhope.org or call (830) 522-2200.