Laura Eleanor Carlson passed away peacefully on July 1, 2022, in Victoria, B.C., with her family by her side. Laura was born September 14, 1928, in Chinook, Alberta, to Frank and Ruth Sayers. She moved to Calgary in her teens and spent time in Vancouver before moving back to Calgary and meeting the love of her life, John Carlson, in 1951. John and Laura were married on June 28,1952. Their first son Josh was born in 1953, followed by Greg  in 1957, Dale in 1958, Jordie in 1960, and daughter Gaylia in 1967.

                After many years living in camps as part of the road construction business that John was involved in, they had a house built in the Mountview area of Grande Prairie and the family moved into it in 1962. John immediately built a rock wall in front of the house with rocks he had gathered that he sledge-hammered apart evening after evening after an already long day’s work. That rock wall still stands today. Mom made that house a place of love and laughter and it was a sanctuary for not only the family but also countless cousins, nieces and nephews. The Mountview house was a place of turkey dinners, apple pies, Laura’s famous cookies , fresh buns and bread and many other goodies. There was always a pot of coffee brewing and a big breakfast to wake up to.  Every year a huge garden was planted and everyone was involved in its care and maintenance leading up to a huge harvest in the fall. The crab apple tree was the source for many of those pies Laura was always baking! Laura and John travelled to many places in the world together but they were always happy to get home and they never tired of the view they had to the west from that house.

                Laura always wanted the boys to be musical and there were piano, guitar, trumpet, violin and even tap dancing lessons. Finally Gaylia came along and Laura had her musician so the boys were set loose to pursue their own passions.

                In later years on Sunday mornings the tradition was for everyone that was in town to come over and Laura would make huge stacks of pancakes. The quiet house would become a noisy Gong Show of laughter and conversation for a few hours. There was never any need for lunch on those Sundays as those pancakes filled you to bursting!

                Laura lost her beloved John in 2017 and continued to live in the Mountview house by herself for a few years until moving into a suite in Emerald Gardens, Grande Prairie.  Although it was hard for her to leave the house with so many memories, she was able to make new friends and appreciated the wonderful service she received at meal time. Laura eventually moved to Victoria and lived with Gaylia and her family. She loved the music that was such a part of that home and looked forward to getting her hair done weekly followed by a purchase of a box of Purdys Chocolates as a special weekly treat.

                Laura was predeceased by her parents Ruth and Frank, sisters Gwen, Beatrice, Iris, brother Darrell, as well as her daughter-in-law, Judy. She is survived by her sister Dulcie, brother Lorne, her children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Laura still had her sharpness and sense of humour at 93 years old. She could recite poems and stories that she learned as a child word for word. She kept diaries for years and had the most beautiful handwriting! These diaries will now be cherished family treasures. Laura Carlson was a kind, generous, and thoughtful lady. Her family and friends were blessed to have had her in their lives! She will be missed but never forgotten.

A celebration of Laura’s life will be held at the Carlson Family Reunion in Vernon, B.C., on August 6, 2022.
Donations in Laura’s memory can be made to Operation Smile.

• Date : 2022-07-01
• Location : Victoria, BC

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