Atkinson

Ida May Belle (Ashmore) Atkinson, much loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away Thursday, Jan. 23 at the age of 90 at Towers Nursing Home in Smithville.

Ida was born on June 2, 1929, in Houston. She was the daughter of Lee Roy Ashmore and Hurdy May Bell (Coffey) Ashmore. She attended elementary, junior high and graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Houston. She married the love of her life, Harold L. Atkinson, Sr., on Aug. 22, 1947, in Houston.

She accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age, and she was very active in each of her churches and other community and school organizations. A resident of near Fayetteville, since 1970, she was a salesperson at Schroeder Drug Store during the 70s and 80s and was a charter member of Second Baptist Church of La Grange where she taught a high school Sunday School class, served on numerous leadership committees, sang in choir, and led girls’ Acteens and Girls in Action. She was also a leader for the Women’s Missionary Union and Women on Missions. She was a member of the Bluebonnet Lions Club and served in many club capacities; she was well known for participating as a clown in many local churches, private and civic events, and parades. She was a member of The War on Drugs Council at La Grange High School and was a reading mentor at La Grange Elementary School for many years.

She is survived by son, Harold L. Atkinson, Jr. and wife, Alissa, of La Grange; daughter, Roxann Atkinson, of La Grange; a sister, Trudy Carter Bacarisse, of Houston; six grandchildren, Kayla Ball (David), Kelli Pederson (Patrick), Blake Hoelscher (Candace) from Houston; Brady Atkinson (Paige) of Montgomery; Tyler Pleasant, of Brenham; Lindsey Pleasant, of La Grange and also numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her seven siblings, and her husband of 48 years, Harold, Sr.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Baptist Church, La Grange, on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. A private burial will be in the La Grange City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the Second Baptist Church of La Grange Youth Dept. Fund, 1010 N. Von Minden St., La Grange, Texas, 78945, or the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, 240 Svoboda Lane, La Grange, Texas, 78945.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fayette Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in La Grange.