I didn't know Laurie well. But I remember her as someone of tremendous talent and energy. I am very sorry to hear of her passing. But gratified to know that she lived her life passionately doing what she loved.
I didn't really connect with Laurie until senior year ... did a play together in drama. She was insanely intelligent, passionate, funny as hell, and would obliterate me in quick-fire crossword puzzle face-offs. So sorry to hear we lost her.
I met Laurie my sophomore year and had homeroom with her every year. I would sit behind her and she would tear off the crypt-a-quote from the bottom of the Tulsa Morning News crossword puzzle and give it to me. We would race to see who would get done with theirs first and she would win every time. Every time I see a crossword puzzle I think of her. She was always smiling and was very funny. It is sad to see her go so young.
This is very sad. I had several classes with Laurie - she was intelligent, articulate, and (as I recall) had a dry sense of humor. We got along very well.
I don't remember what class it was, but she sat right behind me, and, every day, we had a contest to see which one of us had a funnier story.
Laurie and I were close friends early on. Somewhere between 1969 an 1971 she moved into the apartment next to mine. We spent a moment in time as friends, listening to the Jackson Five and the Osmonds. We never reconnected after that, but she will always be an "old friend" in my memories.
GRAHAM Laurie McCrary , 38, died Sunday, September 12 in Everett, WA while exploring an ice cave. Laurie was born January 27, 1961 in Tulsa. She graduated in 1979 from Memorial High School, a Merit Scholar and a member of 2 state champion girls' golf teams. Laurie played the role of "Jo" in the Senior Class Play, "Little Women". In real life, Laurie was Jo. She attended Westminster College and graduated in 1983 from Colorado College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She then worked in politics and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. before choosing her beloved Seattle as her home in 1986. There, she first pursued a career in independent film making. She then discovered her life's calling which was to improve the lives of at-risk youth. Laurie completed a Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Washington in 1996. She then directed the CHAT Project ie. Communicating about Health between Adults and Teens Project at the University of Washington. She also acted as an evaluator for Keeping The Faith: A Women's Prison Project. Laurie was committed to the arts and was a board member of Seattle's Pat Graney Dance Company. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Central Co-op and played center-field for the Absolute Zeros, 1998 League Champs. Laurie loved her family and friends with a fierce devotion. She was a voracious reader, a lover of classical music, ballet and opera. She also had a large library of world ethnic music. She was passionate about the wonder of nature and loved to camp, cook, entertain and just "hang out" sometimes. Like Auntie Mame, "life was a banquet" to Laurie. At the same time, she was supremely spiritual. Although Laurie met an untimely death doing something she loved, she lived an incredible life that enriched those around her. While we are shattered at the loss of our Laurie, we are very proud of her accomplishments in her personal and professional life. She leaves a truly inspirational legacy for her loved ones. Laurie is survived by: her father and mother, John and Eleanore of Tulsa; brothers, John Y. of Cincinnati, Richard S. of Los Angeles and his wife, Lara; her partner, Susan Hurst; her cat, Schmichael, soulmate of 14 years; and a host of friends. The family invites friends to an open house at the Graham home, 5938 S. New Haven, Sunday, October 3 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please come and join in celebrating the life of this cherished child. Memorial gifts may be made to Up With Trees and The Tulsa County Historical Society.
Hey, Chargers. I've long wanted to put this memory to the page here. A wonderful memory, with or without it being a tribute. Laurie Graham is a classmate who goes farther back than almost anyone else. Laurie and I were both going to church with our families and it was about 1967. Our church had both a church service and Sunday School. Well, we were Sunday School dropouts. When it was time to be in class, we "ditched." We hid in the Ladies Bathroom and goofed off. If we knew someone was coming in, we'd each go into a stall, and stand up on the toilet seat so our feet wouldn't show...so no one would know we were there. (We didn't account for the SOUNDS of our being there...or other telltale signs.)
Sometimes I think of the fun we'd have missed these days--I can't imagine kids figuring out how to skip out of Sunday School now!
Our brothers, Richard (Laurie's) and Douglas (mine) were great buddies who met at that church too, went to Byrd together, played trumpets and D&D together. They attended that church's Youth Group there when the brightly-colored shag rug samples completely covered the walls. (I'd say it was "groovy," but that'd be redundant.)
When a Tulsa friend mailed me the news about Laurie in 1999, expecting I'd know her ("class of '79"), I reconnected with Richard and we've stayed in touch since. He's shared many milestones with my family and me, both before and after that reconnection (1979, 1999, 2000, 2002...more). It's almost startling that we both lost siblings in camping/hiking accidents about the same time of year, 20 years apart. But there have been wonderful LIVELY moments to celebrate together. Rich is a great friend and musician who makes it look good to be about two years older than I am right now. (I'm looking forward to it!)
I was so glad to see Laurie at our first Memorial 1979 reunion (1989). We got to talk at LaFortune Park, and--as with other memories of that weekend--it was so fun to see the kids who were really little kids with us back in the day. As for Laurie and me, we could hardly have been littler.
Shortly thereafter, I made peace with Sunday School. Thank God.
Rob Pannoni
I found this obituary for Laurie.Laurie Mccrary Graham `Wasn't Scared Of Anything'
I didn't know Laurie well. But I remember her as someone of tremendous talent and energy. I am very sorry to hear of her passing. But gratified to know that she lived her life passionately doing what she loved.
Diane Britton
I didn't really connect with Laurie until senior year ... did a play together in drama. She was insanely intelligent, passionate, funny as hell, and would obliterate me in quick-fire crossword puzzle face-offs. So sorry to hear we lost her.
Justine Eidt (Tobin)
Rob - Thank you for posting the obituary. It is a great article. JustineKyle Hooper
I met Laurie my sophomore year and had homeroom with her every year. I would sit behind her and she would tear off the crypt-a-quote from the bottom of the Tulsa Morning News crossword puzzle and give it to me. We would race to see who would get done with theirs first and she would win every time. Every time I see a crossword puzzle I think of her. She was always smiling and was very funny. It is sad to see her go so young.Tom Kittell
This is very sad. I had several classes with Laurie - she was intelligent, articulate, and (as I recall) had a dry sense of humor. We got along very well.I don't remember what class it was, but she sat right behind me, and, every day, we had a contest to see which one of us had a funnier story.
I am going to say that she won every time.
Tom
Karen Sorrells (Bowen)
Laurie and I were close friends early on. Somewhere between 1969 an 1971 she moved into the apartment next to mine. We spent a moment in time as friends, listening to the Jackson Five and the Osmonds. We never reconnected after that, but she will always be an "old friend" in my memories.Robert Kendall
Here is the Tulsa World Obituary:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/obituaries/article_e9b4caeb-181a-5a5b-aa0e-df866c10dc24.html
GRAHAM Laurie McCrary , 38, died Sunday, September 12 in Everett, WA while exploring an ice cave. Laurie was born January 27, 1961 in Tulsa. She graduated in 1979 from Memorial High School, a Merit Scholar and a member of 2 state champion girls' golf teams. Laurie played the role of "Jo" in the Senior Class Play, "Little Women". In real life, Laurie was Jo. She attended Westminster College and graduated in 1983 from Colorado College where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She then worked in politics and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. before choosing her beloved Seattle as her home in 1986. There, she first pursued a career in independent film making. She then discovered her life's calling which was to improve the lives of at-risk youth. Laurie completed a Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Washington in 1996. She then directed the CHAT Project ie. Communicating about Health between Adults and Teens Project at the University of Washington. She also acted as an evaluator for Keeping The Faith: A Women's Prison Project. Laurie was committed to the arts and was a board member of Seattle's Pat Graney Dance Company. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Central Co-op and played center-field for the Absolute Zeros, 1998 League Champs. Laurie loved her family and friends with a fierce devotion. She was a voracious reader, a lover of classical music, ballet and opera. She also had a large library of world ethnic music. She was passionate about the wonder of nature and loved to camp, cook, entertain and just "hang out" sometimes. Like Auntie Mame, "life was a banquet" to Laurie. At the same time, she was supremely spiritual. Although Laurie met an untimely death doing something she loved, she lived an incredible life that enriched those around her. While we are shattered at the loss of our Laurie, we are very proud of her accomplishments in her personal and professional life. She leaves a truly inspirational legacy for her loved ones. Laurie is survived by: her father and mother, John and Eleanore of Tulsa; brothers, John Y. of Cincinnati, Richard S. of Los Angeles and his wife, Lara; her partner, Susan Hurst; her cat, Schmichael, soulmate of 14 years; and a host of friends. The family invites friends to an open house at the Graham home, 5938 S. New Haven, Sunday, October 3 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please come and join in celebrating the life of this cherished child. Memorial gifts may be made to Up With Trees and The Tulsa County Historical Society.
Jill Jackson
Hey, Chargers. I've long wanted to put this memory to the page here. A wonderful memory, with or without it being a tribute. Laurie Graham is a classmate who goes farther back than almost anyone else. Laurie and I were both going to church with our families and it was about 1967. Our church had both a church service and Sunday School. Well, we were Sunday School dropouts. When it was time to be in class, we "ditched." We hid in the Ladies Bathroom and goofed off. If we knew someone was coming in, we'd each go into a stall, and stand up on the toilet seat so our feet wouldn't show...so no one would know we were there. (We didn't account for the SOUNDS of our being there...or other telltale signs.)
Sometimes I think of the fun we'd have missed these days--I can't imagine kids figuring out how to skip out of Sunday School now!
Our brothers, Richard (Laurie's) and Douglas (mine) were great buddies who met at that church too, went to Byrd together, played trumpets and D&D together. They attended that church's Youth Group there when the brightly-colored shag rug samples completely covered the walls. (I'd say it was "groovy," but that'd be redundant.)
When a Tulsa friend mailed me the news about Laurie in 1999, expecting I'd know her ("class of '79"), I reconnected with Richard and we've stayed in touch since. He's shared many milestones with my family and me, both before and after that reconnection (1979, 1999, 2000, 2002...more). It's almost startling that we both lost siblings in camping/hiking accidents about the same time of year, 20 years apart. But there have been wonderful LIVELY moments to celebrate together. Rich is a great friend and musician who makes it look good to be about two years older than I am right now. (I'm looking forward to it!)
I was so glad to see Laurie at our first Memorial 1979 reunion (1989). We got to talk at LaFortune Park, and--as with other memories of that weekend--it was so fun to see the kids who were really little kids with us back in the day. As for Laurie and me, we could hardly have been littler.
Shortly thereafter, I made peace with Sunday School. Thank God.