Laura Ann Smyrl, 84, of LaPorte, IN, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, at LaPorte Hospital.
She was born in LaPorte on Feb. 21, 1934, to Clyde Charles and Judith (Doran) Rickes.
Laura graduated from LaPorte High School in 1952, attended Indiana University and graduated from Purdue University Reese School of Business in 1954. She was a stenographer and assistant photographer at Kingsbury Ordnance Plant, secretary at the Indiana License Bureau in LaPorte, then joined Whirlpool Corp. as an IBM key punch operator and stenographer until her retirement.
Laura was a proud member of the Miriam Benedict Chapter of Daughters of the America Revolution, tracing her lineage back to at least 13 participants in the Revolutionary War. She was corresponding secretary, second and first vice regent and regent three times of the Miriam Benedict Chapter. She was junior membership chairman, chairman of pages, and recording and corresponding secretary of Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution, Northern District director, and vice chairman of the National Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, serving as worthy matron three times, district deputy and Grand Ada, She was a member of the Daughter of the Nile, Aretas Temple, Michigan City, IN. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she was baptized, confirmed, married and had been a Sunday School teacher and member of the Altar Guild.
On Oct. 20, 1961, she married Ira M. Smyrl, who passed away on Sept. 20, 2008.
Laura is survived by two nephews, Charles E. (Jeanie) Copper Jr. of Knob Noster, MO, and Glenn Slenker III of Surprise, AZ; as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Judith Mary Copper and Sophia Krise; niece, Kathleen Lower; and nephew, Bruce Copper.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, LaPorte, with The Very Rev. John Wm. Houghton, Ph.D., officiating. A time of visitation will be held Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., when there will be an Order of the Eastern Star Memorial Service prior to the service. Interment will take place at Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte, following the service.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.