LaRue Sanderson
Dec. 24, 1937–Oct. 2, 2025
Sara LaRue Harvel Sanderson, 87, passed away peacefully on Oct. 2, 2025, at her home in Lake Charles, Louisiana, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
LaRue lived a full and energetic life. She was a master scuba diver, a huge Elvis Presley fan, an enthusiastic dancer, and a frequent world traveler. Most of her adventures were with her lifelong best friend, Glenda Clark.
The proud mother of Tim Sanderson and Pam Doucet, she was ecstatic when she became a grandmother to Nicole Doucet. She was blessed yet again in her later years, enjoying her great-grandchild, Adelyn Rose DeVillier.
A longtime resident of Arab, Alabama, LaRue was a human relations director for Johnson Controls, where her longtime career there took her to places all over the world. That included spending a summer in Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, where she earned her diving certification.
Survivors in addition to her son, daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter include her brother, Wade Coy Harvel of Arab, Alabama, and extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her race car-builder husband of 61 years, Edd; and her parents, Joyce and Wade Coy Harvel.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1340 N. Main St., Arab, Alabama. A graveside burial service will follow at Gilliam Springs Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. that morning at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel entrusted with arrangements.
Sar
