Laura Marie Kelly
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Laura Marie Kelly passed away on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Laura was born on August 7, 1977, in Kansas City, MO the daughter of Donald and Virginia (Patton) Heiman. She lived in Lawrence all her life. Laura attended the University of Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. Laura married Wade Kelly on October 12, 2002, and together, they had two children, Henry, 15, and Georgia, 9. She worked as a Contracts and Proposals Administrator at Allen Press for over fifteen years. Laura had a passion for art, textiles, music, and nature. She was a maker of beautiful weavings, jewelry, and paintings, and surrounded her home with flowers and growing things.
Laura was an incredible mother, partner, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Her children and her family were the most important things in her life. In her final years, she faced immense physical challenges with perseverance and bravery. She was, is, and will forever be deeply loved. Her extraordinary kindness was felt by all who knew her.
Laura is survived by her husband, Wade, her two children, Henry and Georgia, her parents, her sisters, Anne, Susan, and Kelly, and her many nephews and niece.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered (FORCE), an organization that supports individuals with hereditary cancer risks, or the Patient Advocate Foundation, which provides case management services and financial aid to individuals with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, ‘Lawrence, KS 66044.
A tremendous human being. Our lives were better because of the way you navigated this world with us. Love you.
My thoughts & prayers are with all of you at your time of sorrow. I worked with Laura for many years at Allen Press. We would meet in the hallway and chat about her children, her health & any number of things. It was a joy to chat with her. She had a wonderful view of life & so bubbly with joy! She was a big prescience in everyone’s lives. Laura will be missed!
We are mourning for this tragic loss and send all of our healing energy to the hearts of her partner and babies.
-the Robinson Tribe
I will miss you so much dear friend. I had the great pleasure to work with you and get to know you. We are all so incredibly lucky to have had you in our lives.
Flo & I were blessed to know Laura through our Daughter. She’ll be missed as a friend of our family. We send our love.
I’m eternally grateful to Laura for putting so much love into her family. That love blossomed into friendships, care for the community, and so much more. Thank you for being my friend’s wife, and the mother to his wonderful children.
inna-lillahi-wa’inna-ilayhi rajiun’
I still can’t believe you are gone. A true angel on earth and now in heaven. I know that you have passed on your extraordinary soul to Henry & Georgia as well as through all those who had the privilege to know and love you. We lived with you and the girls under the same roof and later you were my babysitter for all those years. We had so much fun, you taught me so much, and I will cherish the memories we made together. So much more like a sister than a cousin. I will use your memory as fuel to spread love and empathy in the world until it is my time to go and see you again.
Thinking of and praying for you all. I send all my love and I hope you feel peace.
Laura’s smile was sunshine and her presence chased some of the darkness from this world.
Laurie is my cousin and was my very first pen pal. From the time we were both able to write (legibly) she and I would exchange handwritten letters through the mail. We would write about how we were doing, the juiciest gossip at each other’s school, and our latest boy crushes. I was always so jealous of her handwriting because it was better than mine, but I loved receiving each and every one of those letters! This will always be one of my most favorite childhood memories of Laurie and she will be so deeply missed!
May Laura’s family be surrounded by love and support as you grieve. This community was better when Laura was in it. But we are here to help you pick up the pieces. Sending my love.
She was beauty and power and fire and tender softness. We did not deserve you, but we are so grateful for you. Strength and peace to you all, even in the rage and sorrow.
Remember all the good times spent during this time. Her memories left will be the joy that fills your heart and eases the loss. Praying for family. Praying for Wade. Praying for the beautiful children. ❤️❤️
When I was a little kid, I always thought Laurie, my dear friend Susie’s older sister, was so cool. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood just how strong and amazing she really was. My heart breaks for Wade, Henry, and Georgia. It’s not fair that Don and Ginny had to watch their daughter leave way too soon. It’s hard to know that such a bonded group of sisters is left with an irreplaceable void. You all deserved so much more time with Laurie than what you were given. I’m sorry for your loss.
Thank goodness for Laurie/Laura and the gentleness she brought into the world. It takes so much strength to be a soft place for people to land when they need it and she was.
I am going to miss you Laura. No Goodbyes, I will see you down the road. I love you
Laura we shared a lot of wonderful conversations over the ten years that I worked with you at Allen Press! Until we meet again!
All my thoughts and prayers to the family!
Juan & Miriam Catlla
Dear Ginny, Don, Wade, Henry, Georgia, our daughter-in-law Anne, Susy and Kelly.
We are so sorry to hear about Laurie’s passing. Our hearts brake for you.
Our thoughts, love and prayers go to you all.
May she Rest In Peace
My heart is so heavy thinking about what you all are going through. We are so very sorry. I know you have to be very proud of her,she fought a very big battle. All our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Laurie was so beautiful, fun, and of course, courageous, vulnerable and brave. I was lucky enough to meet her in college through our friend Sarah and got to witness the amazing unfolding of her life with Wade and the kids. Big hugs and love to the family as you celebrate her life. She will be missed!