Obituary for Nadine Lavina French
Nadine Lavina French
Nadine was born March 30, 1928, to George and Leona (Lansford) Malone in Trumann AR. She was one of ten children. She passed peacefully on April 6th, 2023, at her family home.
Nadine lived a very full life with many obstacles that made her a very strong & determined woman. Her mother died when she was 6, her father died a year later. She then went to live with relatives. Nadine started school when she was 8 in a one room schoolhouse. She missed a lot of school because she had to pick cotton by hand in the fall. When she was fourteen, Nadine moved with her sister and family to Doniphan, Missouri. When she finished the 8th Grade, her teacher found a family, the Hamilton’s, that Nadine could work for and go to high school. She did housework and took care of the children for her keep. She finished the 9th grade while living with the Hamilton’s. The Hamilton family then moved to the military defense base in Laporte, Indiana. She left school to take care of the Hamilton children and the home for her keep. She was determined to get an education, so she took correspondence courses from The American School but never completed enough to receive a diploma. Shortly after the end of WWII, the Hamilton’s left Indiana. Nadine stayed and found lodging above The Deluxe Café for $5 a week and she worked at a shoe factory for $20 a week. She learned the hard way to budget money. She then went back to Doniphan Missouri to take care of her sister. In the 40’s, she visited a brother in Fisher AR and that is where she met James Henry French and they married in 1947. She was a very proud wife.
They moved to Tillar, AR in 1950, where James worked for Tillar & Company which was a local farming operation. To make money for the winter, they went to Florida and cut trees with handsaws at the site of Disney World as we know it today.
They then moved to McGehee and lived at the Silver Leaf Motel & Café where Nadine also waited tables to help pay for their lodging. In 1957, they moved to a house on Masonville road, where the Partnership of French Brothers began. This was also the beginning of Nadine’s bookkeeping career.
In 1966, James and Nadine bought a home and farm that they continued to live out the rest of their lives.
Her passion was her children and education. Nadine attended college at UAM alongside several of her children and obtained multiple degrees during this period of time.
Nadine then worked and trained at H & R Block preparing taxes. In the 90’s, she also earned her Realtor’s License. Nadine always told her children that you should never stop learning. She taught herself Spanish just to continue her love of knowledge.
Nadine also was one of the founders of Bayou Park Academy where she was a principal and teacher. She had a huge impact on many children’s education, including her time spent at Dermott School as a substitute teacher.
She volunteered in the community by helping at the dog pound and also working at the polls during election time.
Nadine had an amazing sense of humor and loved to play practical jokes, especially at Halloween. She enjoyed listening to music and would walk around the house humming and singing. Nadine enjoyed her garden and her bowling league in which she has several trophies.
But, she always made time for her children which included several trips to various beaches.
Nadine was an avid seamstress especially when the children were in dance recitals. She spent much time working on their costumes and always mending something for someone. Many times, she heard, “Momma, can you fix this?” Or “Momma, can you get this stain out?” and of course she always did.
She helped Jamie work the farm by walking rice levees or riding their horse to check levees. She helped her sons by planting cotton by hand & helping clear land. She was the bookkeeper and prepared taxes for the family business until her last days.
She also had a life of cherishable memories. Nadine loved playing chess/checkers with her grandchildren. When they would spend the night, she always fed them chicken noodle soup & applesauce in a glass jar. In the morning there would be rice with butter & sugar or biscuits & chocolate gravy ready for them.
Nadine & James were blessed with 6 children. Danny, Mike, Teresa, Steve, Karin & Melinda and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Nadine had many sayings that she would always tell. Two of the most remembered are:
“Always do the right thing and you will never have anything to worry about”.
“All’s well that ends well”
A private service will be held at the French Family Cemetery in McGehee, Arkansas. Arrangements by Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service of McGehee, Arkansas.
Nadine was born March 30, 1928, to George and Leona (Lansford) Malone in Trumann AR. She was one of ten children. She passed peacefully on April 6th, 2023, at her family home.
Nadine lived a very full life with many obstacles that made her a very strong & determined woman. Her mother died when she was 6, her father died a year later. She then went to live with relatives. Nadine started school when she was 8 in a one room schoolhouse. She missed a lot of school because she had to pick cotton by hand in the fall. When she was fourteen, Nadine moved with her sister and family to Doniphan, Missouri. When she finished the 8th Grade, her teacher found a family, the Hamilton’s, that Nadine could work for and go to high school. She did housework and took care of the children for her keep. She finished the 9th grade while living with the Hamilton’s. The Hamilton family then moved to the military defense base in Laporte, Indiana. She left school to take care of the Hamilton children and the home for her keep. She was determined to get an education, so she took correspondence courses from The American School but never completed enough to receive a diploma. Shortly after the end of WWII, the Hamilton’s left Indiana. Nadine stayed and found lodging above The Deluxe Café for $5 a week and she worked at a shoe factory for $20 a week. She learned the hard way to budget money. She then went back to Doniphan Missouri to take care of her sister. In the 40’s, she visited a brother in Fisher AR and that is where she met James Henry French and they married in 1947. She was a very proud wife.
They moved to Tillar, AR in 1950, where James worked for Tillar & Company which was a local farming operation. To make money for the winter, they went to Florida and cut trees with handsaws at the site of Disney World as we know it today.
They then moved to McGehee and lived at the Silver Leaf Motel & Café where Nadine also waited tables to help pay for their lodging. In 1957, they moved to a house on Masonville road, where the Partnership of French Brothers began. This was also the beginning of Nadine’s bookkeeping career.
In 1966, James and Nadine bought a home and farm that they continued to live out the rest of their lives.
Her passion was her children and education. Nadine attended college at UAM alongside several of her children and obtained multiple degrees during this period of time.
Nadine then worked and trained at H & R Block preparing taxes. In the 90’s, she also earned her Realtor’s License. Nadine always told her children that you should never stop learning. She taught herself Spanish just to continue her love of knowledge.
Nadine also was one of the founders of Bayou Park Academy where she was a principal and teacher. She had a huge impact on many children’s education, including her time spent at Dermott School as a substitute teacher.
She volunteered in the community by helping at the dog pound and also working at the polls during election time.
Nadine had an amazing sense of humor and loved to play practical jokes, especially at Halloween. She enjoyed listening to music and would walk around the house humming and singing. Nadine enjoyed her garden and her bowling league in which she has several trophies.
But, she always made time for her children which included several trips to various beaches.
Nadine was an avid seamstress especially when the children were in dance recitals. She spent much time working on their costumes and always mending something for someone. Many times, she heard, “Momma, can you fix this?” Or “Momma, can you get this stain out?” and of course she always did.
She helped Jamie work the farm by walking rice levees or riding their horse to check levees. She helped her sons by planting cotton by hand & helping clear land. She was the bookkeeper and prepared taxes for the family business until her last days.
She also had a life of cherishable memories. Nadine loved playing chess/checkers with her grandchildren. When they would spend the night, she always fed them chicken noodle soup & applesauce in a glass jar. In the morning there would be rice with butter & sugar or biscuits & chocolate gravy ready for them.
Nadine & James were blessed with 6 children. Danny, Mike, Teresa, Steve, Karin & Melinda and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Nadine had many sayings that she would always tell. Two of the most remembered are:
“Always do the right thing and you will never have anything to worry about”.
“All’s well that ends well”
A private service will be held at the French Family Cemetery in McGehee, Arkansas. Arrangements by Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service of McGehee, Arkansas.