Allan LaPlante

Allan Harvey LaPlante passed away at his home in Marion, Kentucky on October 2, 2022. Surrounded by his family, Allan left this world on a beautiful fall day as the sound of laughter rang throughout the house during the many retellings of “Allan tales”. Born on March 11, 1941, Allan was the sixth generation and last child born in his family homeplace; the home that his father, Cecil LaPlant, salvaged the remains of and rebuilt after the 1937 flood. The baby of three children, Allan enjoyed his youth farming with his father and uncles, playing with his cousins, and being spoiled by his mother, Elsie Jackson LaPlant, and older sisters, Shirley Ann and Cecilia Jean. Allan graduated with the East Prairie class of 1959, an avid football player, FFA officer, and all-around social butterfly. Allan married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Dick, in 1961 and they welcomed their first child, Mischelle Leigh, in November of that same year. He continued his education at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla, received the title of the ROTC Top Cadet, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering. After graduating he began a two-year tour of duty with the United States Army Corp of Engineers as a commissioned officer and continued to grow his family with the addition of Mark Allan in 1964. In 1966, Allan joined Continental Pipeline Company, the beginnings of his successful and daring career in the oil business. Allan, ever the hard worker, thrived under pressure and he and Sheila moved eight times with Continental Oil Company (later called Conoco) before welcoming their third child, Cecile Renee in 1968. In 1972 he received a professional engineering degree from the University of Missouri at Rolla and welcomed he and Sheila’s fourth and final child, Jacqueline Janel in 1973. Realizing two people sometimes make better coparents than spouses, Allan and Sheila divorced in 1978. In that same year, he received his masters degree by completing the Sloan Fellowship Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1979, Allan saw Debra for the first time in an elevator. Ever the gossip, Allan asked around until he had a name. He then directed one of his secretaries to tell Debra to apply for his open administrative assistant position (his secretary was unaware he was suddenly in need of another assistant). After much convincing, Debra sat across the desk from Allan for the first time. And that was it. Allan and Debra left Conoco in 1979 to establish Tomlinson Petroleum Company, working closely with their lifelong friends Jim Allison and Ron Sumner. Allan and Debra were married at John Wesley Methodist Church in Houston, Texas on May 3, 1980, with their parents and children as witnesses. Allan enjoyed his honeymoon with Debra in Hawaii, island hopping with their beloved parents, Cecil, stepmother Mildred, and new in-laws Richard and Edith Hall. Cloaked in the confidence and joy a new union brings, in 1981 Allan and Debra left Tomlinson Oil Company to found the Lapco Companies: Lapco Oil and Gas (1981), Lapco Land and Cattle Company (1981), and Lapco Arabians (1985). With this new venture managing 2,200 acres in Kentucky and 1,000 acres of farmland in Missouri, Allan was lucky to inherit a ranch manager who became his best friend and partner, Steve Manker. Steve and Allan were known to speak in code and sometimes with just a glance. They regularly enjoyed early morning coffee dates and long rides around the farm. In January of 1993, Debra discovered she was pregnant, a miracle child both she and Allan never thought would come to pass. They decided then to trade their fast-paced life in Houston for a more quiet and peaceful existence in Crittenden County, and Debra delivered their first child in Paducah, Kentucky, a daughter named Dominique Nicole, in October of that year. The blessings continued and in November of 1996, Allan and Debra welcome their second daughter, the sixth and final LaPlante baby, Elle Martine. The later years of Allan’s life were full of the kind of busyness and happiness only raising young children can bring. He was a chef, a chauffeur, a teacher, a doctor, and reliably attended every after-school event and function he could. His family’s greatest memories still include the many large meals and laughter they all shared together at their Fourth of July reunions. Allan leaves behind a tremendous legacy, including owning and operating the George W. LaPlante Estate, a Missouri Founding Farm that has been passed down from generation to generation of LaPlantes since 1792. He also leaves behind eight granddaughters, seven grandsons, six great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters, and one great-great-granddaughter. All incredibly loved and adored, all incredibly spoiled by their grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, but mostly his horses, cows, and dogs. He considered himself an honorary member of the Hole in the Pocket Gang and the President, Event Coordinator, and Safety Manager of his own private hunting club—a beloved November tradition with his cousin, Rik LaPlant and the Bootheel Boys. A private celebration of Allan’s life will be held amongst family with Masonic funeral rites performed. Allan will be buried in IOOF Cemetery in Charleston, Missouri, with military honors. Allan was a cowboy, a mentor, an incredible father, and friend who will be missed in every corner of the globe.