Jim LaCoste
1949 - 2018
Obituary
Jim LaCoste passed away Monday (Sept.
24, 2018) in his home in Newton, surrounded by his loving wife of 27
years, Debra Ann Miller-Dealy (Miller), and his family.
Jim was born as James Thomas LaCoste in
Norman, Oklahoma, on April 20, 1949, to Thomas Cyrus LaCoste and Mary
Frances LaCoste (Thompson).
Jim, or Mr. Jim - as he was often
called - was a life-long learner and held several degrees. He was a
business owner, school teacher, college championship debater, coach
of championship debaters, aficionado of computers, attorney, drug and
alcohol counselor, recipient of a Harvard fellowship and principal -
but not necessarily in that order.
Jim achieved his life's goal when he
earned his Juris Doctor on May 9, 1987. In life's unpredictable
journey, he practiced law for the least amount of time of all his
careers. Jim returned to the profession he found most fulfilling -
teaching the art of rhetoric to young men and women through debate.
Jim told his history in stories and
memories in the order that was meaningful to him at the time. His
life's tale came alive and was an inspiration to others. Dates and
life in chronological order were not important. He cared about the
journey he created, one day at a time, which became his life and
legacy. While he had previously been married twice before, he and his
favorite wife, Debbie, intentionally carved their space together -
their life of adventure, safety and love.
Jim was a sober member of Alcoholics
Anonymous since June 27, 1982. Jim lived by the Third Step - "make
a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as
we understood Him." When Jim was finally diagnosed with early
onset Alzheimer's, he later wrote that he "felt lost and
alone…relegated to a life of being 'stupid, boring and glum,'"
and that he resented "well-meant suggestion[s] to take the Third
Step." Life came full circle when Jim found comfort in newcomers
who "mirrored back to [him his] own insecure fears."
Eventually, Jim found healing in continuing to take the Third Step as
others had lovingly advised.
Jim and his family traversed the bumpy
road of Alzheimer's disease for 11 years.
He is survived by his daughters:
Jacquie, Meredith, Carle, Casey and Courtney; his siblings, Cathy,
Tom and Terri; his granddaughters: Maisy, Annie, Maya and Lucy; and
many extended family members.
He is preceded in death by his parents;
his children, Roland and Carrie; and his granddaughter, Brittany.
A reception will be held in loving
memory from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 30, 2018) at First Christian
Church in Newton, 102 E. First St.
Memorial contributions may be given to
Alzheimer's Association in care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N.
Main, Newton.
