Isma Lorena Andrews (Ila) LaCoste

April 12, 2021

Isma Lorena Andrews (Ila) LaCoste went to join her beloved husband, William (Bill) LaCoste on Friday, April 2nd.  She was born in her family home in the Pleasant Grove community of Pensacola on December 29, 1931.  The child of Charles Robert Andrews and Isma Destair Cherry Andrews, she was one of two girls and nine boys.

Ila was a graduate of Pensacola High School, Class of 1949. She went on to graduate from the Mather School of Nursing, Southern Baptist Hospital, Tulane University, New Orleans, Class of 1952. Ila practiced nursing at various hospitals.

In 1953, on a visit to San Diego, California, Ila was introduced to Bill by his Navy friend, Tom Halfhill, who was married to Ila’s sister, Ellen. Bill, Ila, Ellen, & Tom enjoyed a life-long friendship sharing many happy times together; meals, picnics, vacations, trips, and eventually becoming next-door-neighbors.  As a Navy wife, Ila moved Bill and their family to many military base cities: Coronado, Imperial Beach, San Diego, Alameda, Bremerton, Ewa Beach, Oahu, Jacksonville, and Pensacola.

Ila gave up her nursing career to raise her children, Donna Marie, John Keith, and William Kevin. She actively participated in many Little League baseball and scouting activities. Ila had many diverse talents; cake decorating, crocheting, ceramics, sewing, gardening, flower arranging, and she could fix almost anything. Ila loved to shop and was known for her ability to seek out the best sales and then spend all day shopping. Ila’s love for sports was shown by her endless hours watching baseball and football games.  Ila worshipped at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church and thoroughly enjoyed her Keenager group activities, especially the trips.  Most of all, Ila enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of whom she was intensely proud.

In Ila’s last couple of years, the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and neuropathy took away her independence. She lived with each of her children, ultimately living at Anthem Lakes Assisted Living Facility in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Ila befriended many of her caregivers and we are thankful for their care and compassion. She was a quiet, loving individual who was beloved by all who had the pleasure of spending time with her.

Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, Ila peacefully passed away during her sleep on April 2, 2021 at The Community Hospice, Anne & Donald McGraw Center for Caring at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Ila was preceded in death by her parents; her husband and best friend, Bill; brothers, Willard Andrews, Lawrence Andrews, Kenneth Andrews, Ralph Andrews, Marion Andrews, Jewel Andrews, and Gordon Andrews.

Survivors include daughter, Donna Hambrick (Ronald) Milan, GA.; two sons, John LaCoste (Debra) Neptune Beach, FL, and Kevin LaCoste (Cindy) Gainesville, FL.; sister, Ellen Halfhill, Pensacola; brothers, Doyle Andrews, Pensacola and Gerald Andrews, Cudjoe Key, FL.; six grandchildren, Amanda Hambrick, Joseph Frederickson (Sara), Jordan LaCoste (Bridget), J.K. LaCoste (Brittany), Cody LaCoste, Austin LaCoste (Sydney). Three great grandchildren, Hal Frederickson, Charlie Frederickson, Reagan LaCoste. She also leaves a host of wonderful friends and relatives who meant so much to her.

Services will be held on April 14, 2021 at Trahan Family Funeral Home. With a visitation beginning at 12:00 pm, she will be laid to rest at Barrancas National Cemetery

Comments

Comments are closed.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries