Harvey R. Lapointe

HARVEY R. LAPOINTE

Long time Mission resident Harvey R. LaPointe, 101, died May 29, 2009, in New Braunfels, TX. Harvey was born April 10, 1908, in Providence, RI to Ralph and Elizabeth LaPointe.
Harvey began working for Henry Ford at the Ford Motor company at the age of seventeen and advanced to become the Head of Plant Protection for the Lincoln/Ford Motor Company in Detroit, MI. Following WWII, Harvey retired to Mission, TX to enjoy the mild climate and his citrus tree groves. After devastating losses from the 1951 freeze, Harvey successfully converted part of his acreage to cotton, and several years later, in 1969, won the prize for the "Nation's First Bale of Cotton." Harvey diversified his endeavors to include land development, produce trucking and a successful grove care business.
In his retirement, Harvey and his wife, Jane, enjoyed traveling throughout the US; one highlight was driving the Alaskan Highway at age 75. Mr. LaPointe was active in the Lions Club and President of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Mission, later transferring to the First Church in McAllen.
Harvey is survived by his wife, Jane, and two daughters, Donna Rogers and Linda LaPointe, both of Austin, TX, Jane's two sons, Jimmy and Mickey Hyatt, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Harvey was preceded in death by his first wife, Ester, and 10 brothers and sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in care of Harvey LaPointe to The Valley Land Fund, 2400 N. 10th Street, Suite A McAllen, TX 78501/(956) 971-8550.
Ric Brown Family Funeral Home of Mission is in charge of arrangements.
Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries