Obituaries

Stephen L. LaFrance

Photo of Stephen L. LaFrance
To Steve, the Lord was first, his family was second, and he was third. Stephen (Steve) Lee Paul LaFrance was a devout Christian and faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. His faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior was no secret to those who spent much time with him, as he worked hard to carry out in his life Jesus' command to love God and others. He was a committed member of his Sunday School class and cherished the fellowship. Steve's family was his ultimate love on earth. No matter how busy his life became, they were his primary focus. He was the proud father to four children and incredible "papa" to seven grandchildren. It was obvious to anyone who visited Steve in his home or office by the thousands of family photographs how much he loved his role as husband, father, and papa. Steve LaFrance was born in New Orleans on October 30, 1941 and shortly thereafter moved to Monroe, Louisiana, where he stayed through his college years. Upon graduation from Northeast Louisiana University, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to begin his practice as a registered pharmacist. It was there he met Linda Baron LaFrance, the daughter of his then-boss, who later became a loving wife of 44 years. Together they moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas to continue his career and start a family. Steve started out with a single pharmacy store located in a Gibson's Department Store in Pine Bluff in 1968. Over 44 years he built his business--USA Drug--on the tenets of providing exceptional service to customers and having spirited and fair negotiations with vendors while developing unparalleled mutual respect. Using this formula, he was able to build USA Drug from that one store into the largest privately-owned chain of drugstores in the United States, along with a wholesale distribution company serving over 20,000 customers around the country. Steve's motto was "Do the right thing," and the same values that guided Steve's personal life largely influenced how he ran his company. It should be no surprise that he was revered by his employees. He viewed them as an extension of his family and valued their time and effort as he did his own. This respect for family and faith was the driving force behind his insistence for years that USA Drug's stores remain closed on Sundays. Steve always commented he was so fortunate to have such a great circle of friends with whom he enjoyed his hobbies, including fishing, playing spades, and cooking. Steve cherished his Friday afternoon spades games in Pine Bluff. There was nothing he enjoyed more than to cook. Once asked what his dream profession would be, he said, "To own my own restaurant and be the cook." In fact, when he designed his home in Pine Bluff in 1980, he insisted that the kitchen be the focal point for interaction with family and friends. Many great memories were made around the table with loving family and lifelong friends, and many remember his legendary Thanksgiving feasts. Steve passed away on June 5, 2013. He was 71 years old. That which "Big Steve" said to many, he now gets to hear from the Father of fathers: "I love you, son." Our loss, but thankfully our sadness is his triumph. Steve is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda, along with his first son Stephen Lee LaFrance, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas, wife Wendy Perdue LaFrance and granddaughter Katherine Perdue LaFrance; his daughter Amy LaFrance Bancroft of Truckee, California, husband Nick Bancroft, grandson, Michael Porter Shelby, Jr., grandson Ellis Price Bancroft, and granddaughters Chloe Elizabeth Bancroft and Isabella Grace Bancroft; his son Jason Price LaFrance of Little Rock, Arkansas, wife, Cassandra Paige LaFrance, grandson Alexander Baldwin LaFrance and granddaughter Sloane Emanuel LaFrance; his brother Billy and wife Emily LaFrance of Georgetown, Texas; his brother Clifford LaFrance of Monroe, Louisiana; his sister Gretchen and husband Freddie Hamel of West Monroe, Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by father Clifford Lee Paul LaFrance, mother Cynthia Louise Price LaFrance, and son Edward Gregory LaFrance. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff. Interment follows in Graceland Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Friday, June 7, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Pine Bluff, P.O. Box 8003, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71611. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published June 7, 2013

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