Laurel Hardy Morrow, Jr. passed away on August 15, 2013 at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on January 9, 1954 at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the first born to Laurel Sr. and Minnie Jean Morrow. He was educated in the St. Louis Public School system. He was a hard working meat cutter at various grocery stores in St. Louis and Bloomington, Illinois.

As a kid, he had issues pronouncing his name. The most obvious was “Laurel Hardy”, named after two famous comedians. Then he pronounced it “La’rel”, emphasis on “La”. He decided it sounded too country, so he finally settled for “Lau’rel”, emphasis on the “rel”. He was proud to call himself Laurel. It was his friends who gave him the nickname “La-La”. He was a friendly person who loved to have fun. Sometimes when his friends would sing on the street corner, Laurel would blissfully join in with the harmony. Most of the friends that he had back then continue to share their love and affection for him today.

In school, Laurel loved to play football and baseball, but it was basketball he excelled in. His success drew him to be picked to play on the city All-Star Team in the summer of 1969 at the Wohl Recreation Center. On March 7, 1977, Laurel married the love of his life, Josephine Day, in St. Clair County, Illinois. To this union, one son was born – Franswa Devon Day Morrow.

Laurel moved to Bloomington, Illinois in 1991 to be near his siblings Robert and Donald. He moved back to St. Louis on May 31, 2013 to spend his final days with his loved ones, Josephine and Franswa. La-La will be missed.

He was preceded in death by Laurel Sr. in 1998 and brother Samuel Keith in 1996. He leaves behind his wife of 36 years-Josephine; his son – Franswa; his mother – Minnie Jean; his siblings – Wade, Robert, Donald, Audrey (Tammy) and Cheryl; his grandson – Duvonte Morrow; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

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