La Rue Weems

On June 20, 1929 in Erath County near Bowman Ridge, Alma LaRue White Weems was

welcomed by her parents Jesse Lee (Buster) White and Willie Thelma White.  On

Saturday November 9th, 2024, God called her home with the words “well done, good and

faithful servant.”

She began school in a two-room schoolhouse in Oak Dale.  She continued her education

in Stephenville graduating from SHS in 1947 and attending John Tarleton Agricultural College.

She met the love of her life Arlon (Chink) Weems when he was one of the boarders at her

parents boarding house.  When they had a date, they would meet in the living room. They

married Labor Day, September 4, 1948, in the living room of her parents’ home at 1109 W.

Vanderbilt Street in Stephenville.

LaRue was a girl scout leader for many years, taking a group of 18 scouts and three leaders

to Washington D.C. on a chartered bus. She went to Weight Watchers and later worked

for them. The couple learned to square dance and went all over the state of Texas, even

dancing in front of the Alamo. After Chink’s lung surgery in 1976, she ran the family business

Weems Exxon and later Weems Texaco and U-Haul.  After its closing, she filled her days with

quilt making for many people, mostly family and the children of Stepping Stones Day School.

She had a dear passion for her church, First United Methodist Church of Stephenville. And as a

young married couple, LaRue and Chink helped start a new Sunday School class, Kum Duble.

She was the proud mother of Leann Weems Pate (Husband Rodney Pate) and son Philip

Weems (wife Cathy Weems) She was the proud Gammy to her four grandchildren, Mark (wife

Melissa Pate), Jennifer Pate, Heather Weems Gallagher (husband Jace Gallagher), and Hannah

Weems. Her seven great grandchildren are William Dunaway, Melanie Pate, Ellie Gallagher,

Ashlyn Gallagher, Ryleigh Gallagher, Henry Bailey, and Charlotte Bailey.

Preceding her in death are her husband of 48 years, her parents, older brother C.E. White

and niece Brenda Byran.

Parting with her now would be unbearable if it were not for the knowledge that she is with God

and we will see her again.

Many thanks to Lone Star, Solaris Hospice, Dr, Marcum, Nurse Jenifer, and Nora

from Solaris for taking such good care of her.

The family ask that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the TreeHouse Afterschool

Program  at the First united Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.