Ava Nolte

Funeral services for Ava B. Cook Nolte will be held Wednesday December 7, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church near Gibsland, LA.  Interment will follow at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.  Mrs. Ava passed away peacefully Friday, December, 2 at Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation facility.  Bro. Robert Leach and Bro. James Everage will officiate.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 6 from 5:00-7:00PM at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1680 First Street, Arcadia, LA.   

Mrs. Ava was born to Oscar and Gertrude Cook on June 10, 1926, at home in the Browntown Community near Saline, LA.  She attended Saline School and graduated from Minden High School in 1943.  She was employed by Southern Bell Telephone.  In 1950, she married Henry F. Nolte, Jr. and they established their home in Mt. Lebanon.  Mrs. Ava was a classy lady and devoted to her family, friends, community, and church.  She was a faithful member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church where she served as church pianist, organist, music director, and Sunday school teacher as well as leading the annual Christmas Eve program at the church.  She was the epitome of a fine, Godly woman and a Bible scholar, faithfully reading her Bible and praying.  She supported the schools that her children attended in any way she was needed.

She served as president of the Bienville Parish Council on Aging.  She was an excellent cook and shared her creations with many.  She was also an excellent seamstress and was devoted to making many of her children’s clothes.  In 1964, Henry and Ava purchased Nelson’s Dry Goods that became Nolte’s Dry Goods.  Through the store, they touched many lives.  Henry and Ava exemplified Godly parents to their three children.

Mrs. Ava was preceded in death by her beloved husband of fifty-four years, her parents, one brother Lorin Cook, one sister Maxie Ruth Cook King.

She is survived by three children, Suzy Blackwelder (Steve), David Nolte (Sheryl), and GiGi Turner (Michael).  She was affectionately known as Ahmah to her six grandchildren, Kirk Blackwelder (Misty), Laura Roberson (Ryan), Mitchell Robinson (Kaylee), Tyler Nolte, Caleb Nolte, Samantha Shepherd and seven great-grandchildren Tori Blackwelder, Ava Roberson, Ren Roberson, Ashley Garrett, Grace Garrett, Cason Robinson, and Gage Robinson, and one nephew Lorin King.

Pallbearers will be Kirk Blackwelder, Ryan Roberson, Mitchell Robinson, Tyler Nolte, Caleb Nolte, Kelly Leach, Robert Kirkham, and Ronald Day.

The family would like to thank the staff of Willow Ridge for the past eleven years where she was a resident.  She loved her hugs and smiles.  The family would also like to thank Dr. Mark Blackwelder, Premier Hospice and two special caregivers Wanda Simpson and Sandra Thompson.

Any planned memorials may be made to Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, 12808 Highway 154, Gibsland, LA 71028 or Life Choices of North Central Louisiana, 606 Belue Lane, Ruston, LA  71720.