Laurie Gaye Furgerson
Laurie Gaye Furgerson (nee Anderson) of Saint Louis (68) went home to heaven on Friday, August 19, 2022, after a long hard 11-year battle against a rare disease, cortalbasal degenerative ganglion. She joins her late parents George and Vyola Anderson and older brother Gary Anderson in heaven. She is survived by life-long friend, and more recently partner, Wayne Wilcoxen, son Matthew Furgerson, step-children Jessica (Mike) Walsh and Daniel Wilcoxen, grandchildren Claire and Norah Furgerson and Lucy Walsh, sister-in-law Beth Anderson, and mother-in-law Eva Wilcoxen. Laurie was of Swedish descent and was a loving devoted mother, partner, “Mimi”, cousin, and friend to many. Laurie was a kind, sweet, loving, classy lady who loved to laugh and make memories with those she loved. She will be greatly missed.
Anyone that knew Laurie knew that one of her many skills was being organized and having a sharp attention to detail, which led to her long successful career as a legal assistant for 42 years with Lewis Rice. When she wasn’t preparing important documents for work, she was using those same skills to create special art projects for loved ones. She was exceptionally crafty (and handy!) and loved to host loved ones, which made her a go-to person to help organize and plan parties and events. She was always the life of any party.
St. Louis, Missouri, was where Laurie called home all of her life. She enjoyed much of what the city has to offer such as Cardinals baseball, Ted Drewes, Missouri Botanical Garden, the Butterfly House, Six Flags, live performances at the Fox, Powell Hall, the Muny; and loved watching her grandkids enjoy the Magic House, Grant’s Farm, and the St. Louis Zoo.
Even while working full time, Laurie was not just a car-pool mom. She participated in Matt’s life – supporting his rise through Boy Scouts to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout; and performing in the plays that raised funds for his Lutheran elementary school.
The Methodist Church has always been a large part of Laurie’s life. She was active in her youth group and as a teen joined a special singing group called “The Seekers.” This is where Laurie would form some of her closest friendships and create life-long cherished memories. Laurie organized and led several week-long mission trips to United Methodist agencies in Louisiana and Kentucky. She has even been known to make a costume and dress up as the Easter Bunny!
A celebration of life luncheon will be held 11 am – 2 pm, Saturday, October 1, 2022, at Webster United Methodist, 600 N Bompart Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery with immediate family. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Rest In Peace, beautiful cousin!
Matthew, Wayne and family, we offer our condolences for your loss. Laurie was a wonderful person, and we know she will be greatly missed.
Bonnie (Bessler) Litteral and Family
Will miss you and never forget you my sweet Godchild & cousin, Laurie.
Our heartfelt sympathies to Wayne & Matt. I have such wonderful memories Laurie’s visits to our various homes through the years.
Wayne, you were a Godsend, you took such excellent care of her. RIP my Angel.
Laurie was a life-long friend. We played together as kids, grew up in the same church youth group, we’re in Seekers together, she even did Creative Circle with me. We were married within 6 months of each other. After I moved to Indiana, we always got together when I returned to visit St. Louis! She was a great friend and she is already missed!
Laurie and met in 1979 at work, I was new. For a couple of weeks we just said “hello” in passing.
Then one day we started talking and we clicked immediately becoming the best of friends away from the job. We could and did talk about everything, especially sharing the same sense of humor. We had tons of laughter, God she was fun! I loved her like a sister, I’ll forever miss her…..
Laurie and I met as young children in elementary school. Christy UMC Church brought us closer together, with Sunday School classes, and later the church youth group. We loved going to church camp each summer, and a few times we were lucky enough to go twice during a summer. Her brother, Gary, was the sweetest person and he volunteered to drive us to camp in Arcadia, Mo and my parents drove us home at the end of the week. In our teen years we both got involved with The Seekers, a church based singing group, which also bonded our friendship, along with everyone else in this amazing group. Before we were old enough to drive, Laurie and I would ride the city bus to Crestwood Mall and spend Saturdays “window shopping”, since we never had much money to spend. As kids, we loved spending our summer afternoons at local swimming pools. We enjoyed many camping/ float trips, houseboat trips, weekends at a cabin near Arcadia, and time together at a lake house in the Ozarks, all done with other Seeker friends. We both loved crafts and worked on many projects together and decorations for parties. We enjoyed watching our kids grow up and later our grandkids. Laurie has always been one of my best friends, and definitely like a sister to me. It was extremely hard watching her cope with the many challenges her brain disease caused during the past 11 years, but she rolled with the changes and always had a smile and positive attitude. Our friendship was strong to the very end. I will miss Laurie everyday, but the memories we share will always live in my heart. She no longer is suffering, and God will care of her now. I am blessed, because she was in my life. R.I.P. Laurie. I love you.
Laurie was my sister’s sister-in-law, a friend from the Seekers, and a fellow Cleveland HS student (gym class – oh, those goofy gym suits). I smile as I remember the most recent years. I’d at least usually see her on our Christmas trips to St. Louis (I’ve lived in Nashville for almost fifty years!). We’d giggle, playing board games. It was hard to see her gradual change due to the awful disease that tried to take that sweet spirit. What a charmer. Your kind and loving spirit is free now. You will be greatly missed by many, including me. We love you, Laurie! Please tell Gary “hello” for me.
Laurie was such a kind and caring woman. She was so active in our church and was loved by all. She will be greatly missed.