March 18, 1916 - June 29, 2022
A Centurion Celebrates 106 years then completes her heavenly promotion.
Time to celebrate Laura.
Laura E. Wilson was the third child born to Lawrence “Shorty” and Avis (Elliott) Wilson at home March 18, 1916, at Kellogg, Iowa.
Laura was two when her family moved from Iowa to Akron, Colorado traveling by train due to her “Papa’s” breathing difficulties with the humidity of Iowa.
Laura survived the “Spanish flu” epidemic in 1918 at the young age of 2. Her family prayed along with her Mama & Grandma who took shifts all night long placing heated warm sliced onions inside a gunny sack (warmed by a wooden stove), laid on Laura’s chest every 2 hours. The next morning the community physician was so surprised by Lauras improvements because the night before he gave Laura a 10% chance of survival.
At the age of four her family moved to Laird, CO. Because her Mama had breathing difficulties in Akron.
Laura attend the Laird School. (Now: Laird Community Center)
Starting first grade in 1922. Laura was the only Wilson child to graduate from high school in May 1934.
Laura helped her Pappa Lawrence “Shorty” Wilson during her 12 years of school by cleaning the chalk boards, dusting & helping heat the school. Shorty” Wilson was the custodian, janitor, & maintenance man for 26 years from 1921 to 1946 and one more year in 1951.
Laura learned to play the “pie anna” piano and organ from her Mamma Avis. Laura would play for school events, Sunday school and church. Laura would share she “had a big mouth.” What she really meant was her voice carried & she could be heard without a microphone (which were not available) at that time.
Laura learned to play cards, fast pitch softball starting out as the short stop then moving to catcher. She had a good arm, throwing the ball with accuracy. Laura met, courted for 3 years with a marriage that lasted 71 years to her high school sweetheart. James Allen Thompson. April 4, 1936. They played fast pitch softball (Laura), baseball (Jimmie pitched), dances with family & friends playing the fiddle, guitars & piano after moving around furniture in family homes for entertainment. Going to a show and eating 5 cent nickel ice cream bars after the show. It was a 35 cent date. Played pool, shuffleboard, and bad mitten with lots of laughing and teasing from Jim.
Laura & Jim always communicated before falling asleep at night to make sure all challenges were understood and resolved.
Laura was a hard working women, a fantastic cook and house cleaner for wheat farmers while living in Laird. Giving all her money to her parents to help raise her younger siblings. Jim taught Laura how to drive in high school progressing to cars from walking or riding horses. Hauling produce in produce trucks, semi’s with trailers (over Loveland Pass; a 2 lane dirt road at that time (way before Eisenhower Tunnel existed) tractors, motor homes, travel trailers, boats, motorcycles and ride a bicycle.
Laura learned how to farm and ranch in the world of agricultural operations with jack asses and horses, with simple farming tools, advancing to tractors with more advanced equipment as their operations grew. Raised: Cattle, chickens, horses, dogs, cats, raccoons, deer, coyotes and bunnies. Milked cows and ran a dairy.
Laura became a Mother with the birth of their son James Donald in the fall of October 1940.
Together they traveled to all 50 states plus Mexico, with family & friends.
In 1960 they became Grandparents. In 1970 they semi-retired spending winters in warmer climates. In 1981 they became Great Grandparents. In 1983 they fully retired for 28 years in Mission, TX. In 2012 Laura became a Great Great Grandma.
Laura and Jim participated in as many activities as possible to teach their family children, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren & friends the enjoyments of spending time together, while working you need to having fun, & enjoy what you do.
On Wednesday June 29, 2022 at home with her granddaughter at her side. Laura received her heavenly promotion with Jesus, as the angels sang upon her arrival! What a blessed day as Laura transitioned from her earthly home with family and friends to her heavenly home reuniting visually with Jesus, God, and the Holy Ghost. Being met by her heavenly family and friends who ascended before her arrival. What a blessed gift, journey and future eliminating all earthly challenges & change.
“Laura was loved by all. Statements from family and friends report a wonderful, warm hearted, & joyful lady who impacted so many people during her lifetime. The end of an era. Laura was missed as soon as she received her promotion.
Laura leaves her Sister: Shirley (Wilson) Renter.
Sister-in-law: Marjorie( Thompson) Goings
Laura is proceeded in death by her family; Son: James Donald Thompson. Husband: James Allen Thompson. Parents: Lawrence “Shorty” and Avis (Elliott) Wilson. Brothers: Charles, Lawrence Junior and Cecil (Needy) Wilson. Sisters: Elsie (Wilson) & (Orville) White, June (Wilson) & (Henry) Hopton.
Grandchildren: Bonnie (Roger) Piel, Ed (Carmen) Thompson, Rhonda Hass, Karen (Wade) Greathouse, Jay Thompson, Christine Thompson, Tammy Featherstone, -Jim Pickett, Kevin Freauff
Great Grandchildren: Johnathan (Melisa) Piel, Christopher Piel, Nicholas Piel (Kawni), Brittany (Devin) Engelhardt, Jason Pickett (Kassidy), Josh Thompson
Great Great Grandchildren: Aspen & Madison Piel, Cale & Addy Engelhardt.
Nieces & Nephews: Lynne (Keith) Howell, Sherri (Bud) Minnie, Rick (Carol) Wilson, Hollis (Char) Wilson, Charlotte Garska, Dorothy Hopton. Marilyn (Dean) Pirre, Cylene Thompson, Sherrie Dutton. Derry (Willita) Thompson, Larry (Michelle) Renter, Lonnie & Gary White. Several great nieces, nephews & cousins.
Daughter-in-law’s: Gloria (Louis) Jurado, Billie Speakman; (Daughter; Lucinda (Josh), Jasmine, Rhianna).
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado. Interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray. Memorials may be made to the Laird Community Center.
Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of her arrangements.
