Laura Bates Lavespere

   Laura Bates Lavespere left this world peacefully at her home in Natchitoches on

Sunday, July 13th , 2025, and went to be with the Lord just one week shy of her 101st

birthday.

   She was born in Red River Parish, July 20, 1924 to Robert F. Bates and Ollie Waters

Bates. She completed elementary school in Coushatta and graduated from

Natchitoches High School in 1941. She then attended Normal College, which is now

Northwestern State University.

   During World War II, she worked for Consolidated Steel Shipyard as a secretary. After

the war she returned to Natchitoches and was employed as a secretary to Natchitoches

Parish School Superintendent, E.A. Lee. In 1955 she was employed by Normal College

as an account clerk and later retired from Northwestern State University in 1980 as

Controller. She was employed by Natchitoches Parish Assessor’s Office as an

accountant from 1984 through 2011.

   Laura was a member of First Baptist Church since 1937, and taught Sunday school

class for children for many years. She was also a member of Women’s Mission Society

and worked at the Love and Care Mission. She was a member of the P.E.O. Chapter

since 1994.

   She was preceded in death by Robert F and Ollie Waters Bates, her husband of 50

years, Eugene H. Lavespere, Sr., brothers Walter F Bates, Curtis D Bates, Charles

Bates, Ray Bates, sisters Della Bates Pardue, Bobbie Dykes Odom, as well as special

nieces, Jean Lowery and Jane Dyer. She is survived by her son, Eugene (Sonny)

Lavespere, Jr, daughter-in-law Rebecca Lavespere and granddaughter Aimee

Lavespere, nieces Charlotte Mobley, Kathy Spurlock (Steve), Robert (Bob) Hebert,

Larry Dykes, and great nieces and nephews Ashley Mobley Irish and Jason Hebert (

Amanda), and great great nieces and nephews, Gracie, Anne Marie and Chandler

Hebert.

   Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 17 from 10am – 12n at First Baptist Church

in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Brother Tommy Rush will officiate a service and celebration

of life at 12 noon following visitation. Interment at Memory Lawn Cemetery will follow

the service.

   Pallbearers will be Jason Hebert, Hugh Gentry, Chandler Hebert, Barry Antee, Edwin

Donohoe, Kris Presson, and Honorary Pallbearer Warren Massia.

   The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mary Antee, a dear friend and

caretaker of Laura for over 35 years. Many other caregivers were with her during her

final weeks. These ladies Mary Moran, Debra Matthews, Debra Jones, Mary Johnson,

Thelma Rachal, Ashley Blake and Rose Gistarb lovingly cared for her. We would like to

extend a special thanks to Hospice of Natchitoches especially Dominick Metoyer, Joie

Isgitt and Marianna Martinez.