Yoakum

Ruby Florence “Flo” Yoakum was born July 7, 1935, in Walters, Oklahoma, and passed away at her home on June 20, 2022, in La Grange, with her family by her side.

A graveside service was held Friday, June 24, at Liberty Community Cemetery, in Liberty.

Florence was born to Will Mrs. Yoakum and Ruby Bridgers, the seventh of 10 siblings, and among them, acquired a reputation for being the “mischievous one” and was often known as the “life of the party.”

After graduating from Empire High School, in Walters, Oklahoma, she married J. D. Howard in May 1953. To this marriage was born two daughters, Diane and Vicky.

Thereafter they moved to Lewisville, where Florence worked at Texas Instruments.

In 1967, they moved to LaGrange, where the couple bought and operated The Longhorn Restaurant until 1974.

After their divorce in 1977, Florence lived in Rockdale, where she managed a dress shop.

She later moved to LaGrange in 1995, where she remained until her death.

Florence was an avid antique collector/dealer and a sharpskilled domino player with a feisty spirit.

During her long residence in LaGrange, she attended First Baptist Church and was a former member of the Red Hatters Society.

She could often be found searching for estate and garage sales or playing 42 dominoes or Texas hold ’em at tournaments throughout the community.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Diane Macaulay; a grandson, Bruce Bode; and siblings Carl Bridgers, Louis Johns, Maxine Lokey, Mary Ryther and Joe Bridgers.

Survivors are a daughter, Vicky (Harry) Jordan of Milano; a son-in-law, Frank Macaulay of LaGrange; her siblings, Alta Dunn of Duncan, Oklahoma, Lois Ann Gilliam of Walters, Oklahoma, Roy Bridgers (Carolyn) of Lewisville, Carolyn (Ronald) Howard of Lewisville; two grandchildren, Buster Bode of Milano and Jamie (Greg) Budnick of Kingwood; six great-grandchildren, Bayle (Wyatt) Cotton of Milano, Bryce (Kasey) Bode of Cameron, Nolan Budnick and Myles Budnick of Kingwood, Blaze Bode and Bray Bode of Lexington; and two great-great-grandchildren, Blakeley Cotton of Milano, Baylin Bode of Cameron; also, numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Brazos Valley Hospice.