Storm "Sunny" Larue

LARUE, "SUNNY" STORM, artist, died February 18 at her Coconut Grove home, surrounded by the magical tropical gardens she cultivated and protected for over fifty years. Of Irish- German descent, she was born in Pennsylvania, 1908. The cause of death at 97 was from multiple myeloma. Storm received her Master of Arts from the University of Miami, researching 19th century Mexican artist José Posada. Thereafter she served several years as adjunct assistant professor in UM's Department of Art. Her paintings were exhibited at former Rudolph Galleries, Woodstock, N.Y. and Coral Gables; in Washington's Corcoran; and in Lowe Art Museum Faculty Shows. She was the recipient of national awards and Roddy Burdine was among notable collectors. During the 60's and 70's, Storm was an important contributors to the Grove art colony, which included Eugene Massin and Tony Scornavacca. Earlier she was vocal soloist at Trinity Methodist and First Presbyterian on Miami Beach and at Plymouth Congregational, Coconut Grove. She was also a much admired folk singer. In the 80's Storm conducted a series of workshops for Miami Art Center and served on Arts in Public Places Selection Committee for the City of Miami. She was a board member of the Miami Chamber Music Society and member of Friends of Library at UM., where she shared her vision with friends environmentalist, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas; journalist, Helen Muir; and library archivist, George Rosner. An indomitable world traveler, Storm was captured most by the west, still camping there in her mid- nineties. Married and divorced twice to the same partner, deceased, Storm's survivors are eleven nieces and nephews. She requested a Neptune Society cremation; no flowers, and charged numerous and devoted friends to enjoy a "wing-ding." Her estate suggests memorial donations in Storm's name to the Salvation Army, Fairchild Gardens, or Lowe Art Museum. A celebration of Storm's creative life is planned at a later date in Fairchild Gardens. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.