Laura Jeannette Alexander Wolcott

Laura Jeanette Alexander Wolcott

Laura was born to Maggie McMullin and Edgar Alexander in Wessington Springs, South Dakota in 1926, eight years after her older sister, Lois. Laura attended the local elementary schools and in high school was active in many areas. Described as ?one of our school's 'musical songbirds'? by the school newspaper, she was active in practically every singing group available to her. She also participated in the Latin Club, Pep Squad, Historical Society, Home Ec. Club, Future Teachers, Religious Ed., and the Hobby Club. Laura?s hobbies at the time were collecting pictures, trinkets and songs. She also attended the movies frequently and chose Bud Abbot and Lou Costello as her favorite movie stars. She graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 1943, her class motto was ?Forward ever, backward never?. At the age of 17, Laura met her future husband, Eldon C. Wolcott.

Both Laura and Eldon attended Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. Laura?s sister, Lois, and her future husband, Don Rutt, were fellow students. Archie Wolcott, her future father-in-law, was the college president. During her years there she worked par...[more]

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ime in his office. Laura continued with her passion for music and performed in traveling quartet representing the college. Eldon?s father, The Reverend Archie Wolcott of the Free Methodist Church, married Laura and Eldon on her Commencement Day, June 9, 1947.

The newlyweds moved to Seattle, Washington, where her sister Lois had been teaching. The parents on both sides were soon to follow. Laura, Eldon, her sister, Lois and husband, Don all became Seattle Public School teacher. For eight years, Laura and Eldon sang in the worldwide broadcast of the Free Methodist Church, ?The Light and Life Hour?.

Laura?s first child, Laurita Kay was born May 25, 1953 in Seattle, WA. On December 23rd, 1959, Laura gave birth to her first son, Gordon Randolph. Two years later on March 1st, 1962, Laura youngest son, Gregory Bradford was born.

Laura and Eldon made the decision to convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Their life long commitment to the Free Methodist Church made this a difficult decision. Laura, along with her husband and daughter, was baptized into the LDS Church on June 12, 1965. The boys were baptized into the church when they turned eight years old.

Laura?s husband, Eldon, died of leukemia on June 16, 1970. Although Rita was a big help to her mother, Laura was left alone to work full time and raise her children. Laura not only rose to the occasion, but also took foster children into her home. Linda Adams, Darwin Bullshows, and Martin Wilkins were as much a source of pride to Laura as her biological children. Their pictures and memories carried with her forever.

In addition she took on the responsibilities of First Ward Music Chairman, and Choir Director as well as Stake Music Director within the Mormon Church. One of the highlights of her musical and spiritual life was to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Laura?s oldest daughter, Rita, married Willem Dirkse-van-Schalkwyk in 1981. They had one daughter, Samantha Erin. Two years later, Gordon married Eileen Falk. They have three children Raechel Bronwyn, Bailey Mourin, and Jacob Oliver. Gregory married Valerie Oravatz in 1987. They had one daughter, Nicole.

Laura continued to teach at the Seattle public schools, finishing her career as a music teacher at Coe Elementary on Queen Anne Hill in 1984. Although she had a new life awaiting her as a retiree, Laura had been struggling for a couple of years with mobility issues and loneliness at her Magnolia home. She decided to purchase the house next door to Gordon and Eileen, in West Seattle, and after a year of packing and moving loads of Laura?s belongings to several storage facilities, she moved into her new home in October of 1994.

With practically the entire family living next door to each other, they were worried about the potential for conflict and the lack of privacy. It turned out to be a wonderful situation! Laura had her children pick out new furniture to go with all of the new carpets she had installed. She taught Sunday school classes to her grandchildren and also home schooled her granddaughter, Bailey, for a year. Gordon and Eileen enjoyed listening to Laura playing her piano. Laura and Eileen worked together on the genealogy of the Wolcott Family, putting pictures into albums and getting Life Histories into order. Everyone worked hard at putting together and maintaining Laura?s dream house. Laura wanted to turn one of her rooms into a ?doll room? and another into ?the study?. She wanted to hang pictures everywhere, and with Gordon, Eileen, and Rita?s help, all of her dreams came true.

Sadly, Laura?s sister, Lois, lost her husband, Don, in the fall of 1994. Several days after Don?s funeral, Laura?s daughter, Rita, lost her husband, Bill, to cancer. It was a difficult time for the family. We faced that holiday season without two of our loved ones.

Several months later Laura packed her bags, and reluctantly took a plane ride to Disneyland with Rita, Samantha, Gordon, Eileen, Raechel, Bailey, and Jacob. Laura had many adventures that trip. She returned from southern California with a renewed sense of humor and closer ties to all.

In November of 1996, Laura?s mother, Maggie Alexander, died at the age of 101. The next February, Rita sold her home in Tacoma and moved, with her daughter Samantha, to Seattle to pursue a teaching degree. Laura invited them to live with her while Rita attended school.

Laura had two children, her daughter-in-law, and four of her grandchildren in her daily life. Her youngest son, Greg, also became part of her life again, and was overjoyed to meet her granddaughter, Nicole, for the first time.

Even as her health was deteriorating rapidly, Laura enjoyed being the ?hub? of the group, and maintained friendships over the phone. But, although Eileen, Gordon, and Rita tried to care for Laura, they eventually had to place her in an Adult Family Home in 1999.

Laura is survived by her mother-in-law, Della; sister Lois; cousins Stanley and Juanita; children Laurita, and husband James, Gordon and wife Eileen, and Gregory; grandchildren Raechel, Samantha, Bailey, Jacob and Nicole.

?Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power,

be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb for ever and ever?

Rev. 5:13