Laura E. Autrey passed from this life to the next on July 4th (Independence Day), 2013. She is finally free from the suffering and pain she experienced and is home with her Lord Jesus. Laura lived a full, beautiful life with family and friends. She leaves behind a legacy of love, joy, and happiness.
Laura Earp was born on February 9th, 1964 in Enid, Oklahoma to Clarence Oscar Lee Earp Jr. and Sarah Juanice Earp. Laura was raised in Hennessey, Oklahoma. She was crowned Miss Hennessey in 1981. She graduated from Hennessey High School in 1982. Laura attended Oklahoma Christian University from 1982 to 1985 where she was a member of Theta, Theta, Theta and the Oklahoma Christian Chorale and Chamber Singers. Laura studied Vocal Education. She participated in numerous recitals, plays and concerts. She also attended the University of Texas at Arlington.
Laura met her would-be husband, John Philip Autrey at Oklahoma Christian in 1983. She and Philip married on May 11th, 1985. Laura and Philip brought three children into this world, Victoria, Alexandra and Nicholas. Laura focused her attention, talents and gifts onto her family from the beginning to the end.
Laura worked in a variety of roles in her work life and was uniformly loved and appreciated by her employers and co-workers for her efforts. She worked for Moore-Stansberry, Inc., First National Bank, Strata Oil, Inc., Conoco, Inc., Burnett's Southwest Personnel, A.E. Petsche Co. and most recently the Kennedale Independent School District. Her longest tenure lasted 9 years with the school district as a tutor at James A. Arthur Elementary. She made numerous close friends among her co-workers and attracted many endearing 5th and 6th graders into her loving circle.
Laura was a faithful member of this church, the Pleasant Ridge Church of Christ for the last 27 years. She used her God-given talents and gifts to bless many ministries at Pleasant Ridge over the years, notably in the nursery & with LTC chorus.
Laura suffered from Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer for 5 years and met head on all the challenges associated with her treatments. She made close friends, as was her custom, among patients, doctors and nurses. This was typical of her legacy.
Laura is preceded in death by her father, Clarence Oscar Lee Earp, Jr. and her brother, Rodney Lee Earp.
She is survived by her husband, John Philip Autrey and her three loving children, Victoria Autrey, Alexandra Autrey and Nicholas Autrey.
She is also survived by her blessed and adoring mother Sarah Earp, her sisters Susan Jones and Nancy Stansberry, along with her brother-in-law Mark Stansberry.
Laura is also survived by numerous Aunts and Uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, Philip's entire family (who adored her), and a host of loving friends.