Laura Williamson

Laura "Laurie" Guine Williamson was born September 18, 1957 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and left this life to glory on October 23, 2023. Laurie graduated from Spiro High School in 1975 and received a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1981. She moved to Houston and worked as an Engineer for the Federal Government for 32 years, retiring in 2015.

One of Laurie's favorite vocations was Aunt Laurie. This job she took very seriously, spoiling every child that came into her life. She began this calling with Derek Kurth, her best friend and sister of the heart Suzy Kurth's son. She then perfected her skills with John Ransom, her nephew. As she mastered the art of Auntie, she blessed cousins’ and friends' children with love, laughter and attention.

Laurie loved to teach the Bible and taught many Sunday School classes at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. She worked humor into her lessons as she believed people learn with humor. She often said that humor was the wine of hope.

Laurie traveled extensively in the US with her girlfriends Sue, Maggie, and Dixie. They traveled by car giggling all the way to Maine, Florida, Seattle, Bakersfield, and Key West. She made other trips too, always inviting friends to visit wherever she lighted for a month or two. She traveled once by train from Oakland to Houston and said on her return, "I am glad I did it. But I don't have to do that again!"

Her cousin Mike loves to tell this story on her. One of her friends was thinking of starting a surf camp in Nicaragua. She called Mike to ask his business advice on such a plan. When he answered the phone he said can I call you back? She said yes but remind me to ask you about a surf camp in Nicaragua. As she started to hang up Mike said wait a minute you had me at surf camp.

Laurie loved to cook. She teased her sister that she would spend all her money in retirement and that Mary Ann would have to sell a cookbook, Ms Laurie's Secret Recipes, in the back of the church after the funeral to come out even. She said the highest compliment she ever received was on a peach cobbler she made for her friend Jimmy. When she asked how he liked it, he said "You can't put it on your head.” What do you mean you can't put it on your head?, she asked. He said "If you did, your tongue would slap your eyeballs out trying to get to it." One of her enduring legacies will be the smiles (and eye rolling) she leaves behind.

Laurie is preceded in death by her parents Gene and Ruth Williamson and is survived by her sister and brother in law Mary Ann and John Lovett, her nephew John Ransom Lovett II, her St. Luke’s family, and countless faithful friends. Her legacy of faith and fun and family and friends remains to comfort and strengthen and encourage us all every day.

Service for Laura Williamson will be held Monday, October 30 at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary at St Luke’s United Methodist Church 3471 Westheimer, Houston with a reception to follow in the Hines-Baker room. The service will be livestreamed at https://stlukesmethodist.org/laurie-williamson/

Memorials may be designated to St. Luke’s UMC Foundation, P.O. box 22013, Houston, TX, 77227.