Virginia Frances LaPorte

Born December 21, 1933 on a farm near Leming Texas. She was born Virginia Korus and married Roger DiRocco and had two sons, Jerome and Mark (deceased). She later married Lester Henry La Porte in 1961 and brought with him an adopted son, Brian Humboldt. Lester and Virginia had one son together, Andre LaPorte. Mark and Jerome later changed their names to LaPorte.

She is survived by her sons and (spouses); Brian and (Gayle) Humboldt - Panama City, FL, Jerome and (Cathy) LaPorte - Leming, TX and Andre and (Jane) Laporte - Lincolnshire, IL. Grandchildren include Amanda and (Kennith) OConnor - Pasco, WA, Samantha LaPorte - Kenniwick, WA and Ivy LaPorte - Austin, TX. She had two great grandchildren, Brett and Savannah as well as her beloved cat, Sonny.

So who was Virginia? She is best described as a creative, free spirit who loved creating beauty. The inner child in her enjoyed coloring while the adult side enjoyed planting flowers and painting. She would often buy a painting at a garage sale, take it home and add her own special twist to it to make it truly "one of a kind".

She was quite the entrepreneur as well. She had a flooring company, started a newspaper, and flipped houses. For many years she worked as a legal secretary and could type over 100 WPM.

She always had a special place for the "underdog" be it plants or people. She loved to take a withered plant or tiny twig of a tree and nurse it back to health. There are many trees that she planted in the harshest of conditions that she nursed through maturity. Many of those trees are still standing and tower over "the farm" where she grew up. And she truly loved the farm. She started a little homestead out there 20 years ago with a used travel trailer. She transformed a dry parched piece of land into her oasis. A patch of land that is now the home of Jerome and Cathy and many cows all of whom have names.

Just like with plants, she took the same nurturing approach with people she befriended. She was very active in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) throughout her life and built true lifelong relationships with many of the people she engaged. She was sponsored by many and was also a sponsor to many. Some of the most influential relationships were through her sponsorship of ALA-teens. She spoke at many conferences and, in some situations was designated by the courts to be a sponsor for our troubled youth who had a substance abuse problem. She was a friend and a mentor to many young people who had lost their way and found themselves addicted to alcohol. She undoubtedly touched hundreds, if not thousands, of lives through her work. For each person she helped there were countless future spouses and children that have benefited from her loving guidance.

Of all the things that she was most proud of were her grandchildren. There was rarely a conversation where she didnt ask about her precious grand babies. She loved them dearly and shared her love with them freely. She relished at the opportunity to provide guidance even if guidance wasnt asked for. She had a special knack for knowing just how to share her life wisdom with them when they needed it most and didnt even know it. She was very proud of them and the uniqueness they each brought to her life.