LaRue Beth Stone

LaRue Beth Stone Beth was born May 15, 1940, in Harlingen, TX, and died June 7, 2026 in Tucson, AZ. Beth was born to John Lewis and LaRue (Packer) Stone, and grew up in Muskogee, OK where her father was editor of the Muskogee Daily Phoenix newspaper. The family lived across the street from Muskogee Country Club and she had an early interest in playing golf. Beth used to follow her parents around the golf course, and in 1953 she began playing. She soon was a teenage powerhouse. In 1955 and 1956 she won the state high school championships; and was Oklahoma Junior State Champion in 1956 and 1957. In 1957 she was runner-up at the National Junior Girls’ tournament. She won the Muskogee Country Club championship in 1958, and the Muskogee Amateur Championship for the fourth year in a row. That same year she was named Muskogee (Central) High School Athlete of the Year; and won the Pete Smith Athletic Achievement award. In 1960, Beth was medalist and won the Oklahoma Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championship. She was one of the first inductees in the Muskogee Sports Hall of Fame; and was inducted in the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2010. After graduating in 1958, she kept her promise to her father and went to the University of Oklahoma on a golf scholarship. There was no women’s golf team, and she was the first female awarded a “letter” at OU. Beth never got to play in a college tournament because the Big 8 Conference ruled women’t couldn’t play on men’s teams. Beth eventually left OU and joined the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour in April, 1962. She never won a LPGA event but was second five times, including twice at the US Women’s Open in 1967 and 1974. In 1978, Beth was elected to a two-year-term as President of the LPGA; and she often led Bible Study groups among the other LPGA players while on tour. Beth listed Bob Toski, Jack Grout and Ben Hogan as tutors. In 1982 an injury forced her retirement from LPGA. She moved to Tucson, AZ where she and fellow LPGA professional, Joann Prentice, established The Golf Stop, a popular golfing equipment business. They both also gave lessons at the business which was a part of Tucson’s business community until it closed in 2024. After her golf career, Beth enjoyed horseback riding and was a frequent participant in bicycle races in Tucson. Survivors include her sister, Joan Morrison and husband, Calvin, of Gore, OK; and nephews, Don Hansen and wife, Rhonda; Brett Hansen and wife, Wendy; and Brody Hansen, all of Fort Gibson, OK. Also special, caring friends Michael and Lynn Stone, Tucson; Wendy Kirkpatrick, Tucson; and the wonderful, caring, loving staff at Bradford Home Assisted Living and Catalina Hospice of Tucson.