16 responses to Laura M. Brown-Wilmot

1. 

   Jacque Rowland says:

   December 6, 2013

   My heart is broken. There are so many memories of Laura aka “Sugar”. I was 18 when I met her and since then, we were college roommates, L.A. roommates, and she was my non-blood sister. Every monumental life event of mine, Sugar was either partaking in the event, or standing right by me. She often called us “Thelma and Louise” because of our outrageous road trips and wild.

   There are 4 of us-Laura, Susan, Wendy and I. We all met in 1985 and 1986 and our friendship grows deeper each year. At our annual “girls weekend” this August in Atlantic City, Laura was glowing, dancing, of course, extremely chatty and full of happiness! I think Ed will have to participate in the annual girls weekend in lieu of Sugar, however, I don’t think he can handle.

   She was part of my family and my Mother and Father called with more memories that I had forgotten. All the memories include her smiling or doing her “roar” laugh. I have many pictures that I am bringing and would like to share because I am not savvy enough to download here.

   My fondest memories of Laura include: Her 21st birthday at Ball State. *The infamous road trip to Houston, New Orleans, and South Padre-that was 1 trip. * Our L.A. adventures with riots, earthquakes and floods-we danced at every bar in L.A., camped at Joshua tree with scorpions, hiked death valley and drove to Las Vegas -ohh so many times. *We were apprehended in Tijuana and Sugar smoothed talked our way back to L.A. *Her candy gum colored, convertible VW. We would have the top down in that car when it was freezing because it was the coolest car in California. *Laura declined my offer to be my maid of honor at my wedding because she was in California and I was in Indiana. I was heart-broken until she flew up and took over maid of honor duties and “rocked the house” at my wedding. *Laura was with me when children were born. *Laura is my daughters Godmother. *Laura convinces me every time I call to say that I am leaving my husband to stay with him. *Laura is my rock. *Laura is part of who I am. There are so many memories that I can write a novel about Laura. I love you Laura Sugar Brown

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2. 

   Susan Tassie Elgan says:

   December 7, 2013

   http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome'sid=0AauG7Fw5bs2Tlw

   More photos can be found at this web address

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3. 

   Susan Tassie Elgan says:

   December 7, 2013

   My dearest friend Laura….you were a shining star and you will live on in our hearts and minds as a kind, caring, compassionate, thoughtful, joyful, spirited, live life to the fullest best friend, wife, mother, daughter, godmother, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, step-sister anyone will ever know. I am shattered at the thought that I will no longer be able to call you on my way home from work and share my day, week, month, with you. I have picked up the phone numerous times this week to share something with you only to realize that opportunity no longer exists. You have been a part of every important moment in my life…you made my college experience all that it could be, you were my maid of honor, you are godmother to my eldest and you were a constant grounding force for me to hold onto when life seemed to be spiraling out of control. No words will ever be able to express the grief we all feel at losing you but it’s important for me to express how my life was forever changed for the good when you came into it and it will forever have a void with you no longer in it…..Heaven has been given the gift of your presence and until we meet again keep smiling, drinking cosmos (and beer!), listening to your Madonna and Cher and sharing your contagious laugh…..

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4. 

   Cheri King says:

   December 8, 2013

   I’m Laura’s friend from Cincinnati; we called each other best friends from kindergarten. We both lived in Indiana at that time, and Laura was my treasured friend. We were in the same classroom from kindergarten through third grade almost every year. I still remember going up to the school in the summer to find out what teacher I had although even more important to me was whether Laura would be in my class. I moved to Cincinnati after the third grade, but we have always kept in touch. I was explaining my friendship with Laura to a Cincinnati friend this week. My friend listened thoughtfully as I explained that Laura and I have remained friends for 42 years although we haven’t lived in the same state since we were ten. Her reaction made me smile. She said, “So you two kept in touch the old-fashioned way, without email or Facebook?” Yes, yes we did! We wrote letters for many, many years until technology helped us out. I was reading the many posts about Laura written by friends, family and co-workers. People often mentioned Laura’s generous bear hugs which made me smile. Although separated by distance, Laura held on to me and our friendship these many years, a metaphorical bear hug that has blessed my life and for which I’m grateful. I was always hugging her right back. Childhood memories of spider swinging on the playground, lunch box envy, sharing our love for reading, outrage over the rising price of chocolate milk in the school cafeteria (from $0.05 to $0.06, now you had to bring a penny with your nickel ridiculous!), talking too much during class which somehow got Laura in trouble (sorry, Laura!…actually she’s the one who remembers this, I’m just repeating what she told me many times, so I guess it’s true) and annual school field trips to Connor Prairie are only possibly because we’ve discussed them over and over again through the years. One of our favorite memories is of writing our 3rd grade penguin poems. Laura knocked it out of the park that day when she composed these lines: The penguin was wearing a tuxedo. He looked like a president about to make a veto. We were absolutely beside ourselves with her sophisticated observation and word choice. I still have my penguin poem just so I can jump back into the memory of that joyful, triumphant day. Over the years, I have loved watching Laura enjoy life which she did immensely. To me she has always remained the beautiful, loving, optimistic, full-of-fun girl with a huge heart of gold. Laura cannot be replaced, only remembered with love and joy. I’ll end here the same way we closed out all of our letters to each other. Lots of love, Cheri

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5. 

   Susan Taylor says:

   December 8, 2013

   Hi Tony- You said it well! My thoughts and sentiments exactly – Miss Taylor. 🙂

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