Ladine A. Boyle

Ladine A. Boyle, of Grove, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully in the arms of her children on February 25, 2024, at Solace House of the Ozarks Hospice in Joplin, Missouri at the age of 74. She was born in Ft. Scott, Kansas on January 7, 1950, to Leslie ‘Pete’ and Hazel Nadine (Flickinger) Barnett. She graduated with Honors from Grove High School with the Ridgerunner class of 1968. Ladine was a beloved member of First Christian Church since 1958. Ladine’s faith and family were the most important things in her life and she would often mention how absolutely blessed her life had been. Ladine's pride and joy were her children, Lorie and John. Her husband left and she became a single mother at the young age of 21. Ladine provided her children with Friday night slumber parties in the living room, gave them turtles she found as pets, made homemade donuts for their best treat and taught them the words to every Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle song ever written. To this day, her children still "love a rainy night" or a good King Kong movie. She raised them half their lives while working two jobs and without a dime of child support. Times were tight but the love was big and, even now, Lorie and John consider their young years some of their richest days. Interestingly, one of her jobs was as an accounting manager in the Tahlequah store of Walmart. She was Sam Walton's employee as he launched his new company which at that time had only three locations. Some of her paychecks were paid in Walmart stock instead of cash to help out Mr. Sam as the company grew. When she remarried and helped her husband build his business, their success allowed she and her family to frequently visit Fort Meyers Beach, FL. Ladine loved the beach and the ocean. When she remarried, she went from being a mother of two to a mother of five children and loved every minute of it. She was the homeroom mother for all of her children at the same time. She kept her kids close in the teenage years and their friends practically lived at their house. This is how she came to be known as “Mom Boyle.” When she divorced several years later, Ladine dedicated many years of her life to a successful career as a Closer for title companies in Tulsa. She was known for her organization, intelligence, attention to detail and her ability to light up a room with her smile. On vacations, she traveled the world with Lorie and enjoyed amazing Vegas trips with John and Leslie. You didn't really know Ladine unless you had heard the phrases, "My son went to Oklahoma University," or "my daughter was a goodwill ambassador for the United States." She recently said her favorite time in her life was when her children were very young. “We had SO much fun!” she said. Just days before she passed she declared her children as her greatest productions. She was a huge OU fan and adored cheering on her favorite team, sometimes screaming, “GET THEM GET THEM!” She retired and made her way back to Grove long after her children were grown. She took care of both of her parents and acted as their nurse until their very last days. Her mother and father had moved to Grove to manage Red Rock Resort in 1958 and her mother later became a nurse for Dr. N.A. Cotner. This fact will explain how Ladine was a historian for anything that happened in Grove from the 1950's to present day. Gary Strack and Ladine enjoyed many common interests. She spent her last years taking care of Gary and his mother, Eileen, who is 97 years old. Their favorite activity each day was eating breakfast on the deck overlooking the lake and also feeding their wild animal pets. They fed deer, rabbits, turtles and a ground hog which raps on her backdoor until she cracks the door and hands it a tortilla. Being a Nana to both her grandkids and many dogs over the years was of the utmost importance to her. She spoiled them all, including nieces, nephews and most any kids she met, with more toys than they ever needed. Ladine had a smile that brought joy to those around her. She delighted in lake living and adored going crappie fishing and waterskiing. She even surprised her son-in-law, Justin, not that many years ago when she waterskied slalom. In her free time, Ladine enjoyed gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors. She had a passion for healthy eating but also allowed herself to indulge in her love for chocolate. Ladine loved to laugh and have fun. She was an independent lady, a free-spirit, and a great listener who also happened to be an incredible seamstress and was famous for her cheesecake and her cream cheese mints. Ladine will be deeply missed by her daughter Lorie and husband Justin Hicks of Grove, Oklahoma, her son John and wife Leslie Boyle of Irvine, California, Gary Strack of Grove, Oklahoma, grandchildren, Jesi Williams, (Adam) and Cody Hicks, great-grandchild, Caiden Williams, brother Loren Barnett of Grove and her adopted “Ruiz” family whom she adored. She had too many friends to count,. Much like her mother, she never met a stranger. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Larry Barnett, her son, Randy Boyle, an infant twin daughter to Lorie, her grandson Zach Dombrowski and her great niece Sadie Stevenson. Ladine requests that all donations in her memory be made to Solace House of the Ozarks Hospice, 2425 Mina Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. Purple iris were Ladine’s favorite flower and may be planted in your gardens in her memory. She would love that! Arrangements are entrusted to Nichols-Stephens Funeral & Cremation Services in Grove, Oklahoma. A private family service will take place per Ladine’s wishes and any future memorial plans for her will be announced in The Grove Sun. Make the most of everyday like she did … Ladine “loved loved loved” life!

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Ladine A. Boyle

January 7, 1950 - February 25, 2024