Marilyn Laws-Porter

Mass of Christian Burial for Marilyn Laws Porter, 72, Eudora will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2009 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Lawrence.  Private burial will be in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery in Eudora.  She died Monday,  July 27, 2009 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.  She had been a resident of Eudora since 1971.

She was born December 25, 1936 in Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Carl F. and Isabel Karoline (Parker) Redman.

She graduated for Emporia High School in 1954.  She attended classes at Johnson County, Kansas University, Baker University, and Ottawa University.  She worked as an administrative assistant for Piper-Jaffrey for 25 years retiring in July 2000.  She was a 15 year volunteer for the American Cancer Society.  In 2001 she received the John Gingrich Award for program volunteer of the year for Habitat for Humanity.  In 2005 she was awarded the Volunteer Community Service Cornerstone award in Lawrence.  The Citizen of the Year in Eudora was given in 2005.  She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church and St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.  In 2008 she received exemplary achievements for Sacred Heart Catholic School in Emporia, KS.  She received the Pope John II award for teaching Catholic Religious classes which she taught for 20 years.

She married Don Laws on December 27, 1954 in Emporia, KS.  They later divorced in 1980.  She married Thomas “Tom” Porter in 1984 in Lawrence, KS, he survives of the home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Julie Stewart, and husband, Johnny, Karla Cleveland, and husband, Shawn, all of Eudora; two sons, Mark Laws and wife, Kathy, Ottawa, KS; Cord B. Laws,  and wife, Amy, Kansas City, Missouri; one brother, Don Redman, Arlington, TX; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A Rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. (for those who want to attend) and a Prayer Service to follow at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2009 at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence, following the service family will greet friends.

The family suggests memorials in her name to St. Theresa’s Society; Holy Family Catholic Church, Eudora; Eudora Food Pantry or to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Scholarship Fund and may be sent in care of the mortuary.

Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com Subject:  Laws Porter.