Ola McLaren Vowell

Our precious mother and grandmother, Ola McLaren Vowell, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022 at age 87 from natural causes. She devoted her life to her family, leaving behind a fulfilling life as a mother, grandmother, a sister and friend. She enjoyed being around people but never wanted to be the center of attention, and requested a small graveside service. The simplest pleasures brought great joy to Ola. Over the last year, Ola and her daughter, Valerie have spent many enjoyable evenings together as Ola sat in her favorite recliner chair while they discussed her grandchildren’s activities of the day. She had an uncanny ability to find happiness in the smallest deeds. Ola worked for ExxonMobil for 30 years and retired at the age of 79. She loved her job and the people with whom she worked. For many years, she volunteered to run the United Way campaign at ExxonMobil collecting money to help those in need. Ola always had a way to put others before herself. Ola was preceded in death by her parents, Silverene and Frank McLaren; six brothers, Spence, Rufus, Vernon, Ernest, Doug and Robert McLaren; and one sister, Patsy McLaren Brittain. She is survived by her daughter Valerie Fitzgerald and husband Quint of Humble, Texas; her grandchildren E.J. Fitzgerald, Ashlynne Fitzgerald and Brooklynne Fitzgerald all of Humble, Texas. She is also survived by her sister, Margie Sparks and husband Gerald of Provencal, Louisiana and she was a loving Aunt to many nieces and nephews. Ola enjoyed taking care of people was known as a mother to everyone. She had one rule at her house, you hug her when you get there and you hug her when you leave. She absolutely loved cooking for her grandchildren and they all looked forward to eating Mimi’s shrimp gumbo, chicken & rice soup and five layer pie. Friends wishing to honor Ola are invited to make a donation in her name to Texas Children’s Hospital Heart Center. A graveside service to honor her life will be held at 2 pm Friday, April 22, 2022 at Weaver Cemetery in Flora, LA. The family will receive friends from 11 am until 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home.