Laurn Kay Schroeder

Laurn Kay Boehner Schroeder, 40, passed away Aug. 26, 2011, at her home in Flower Mound, Texas, with family at her bedside after a six year battle with a very rare form of cancer. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at The First Presbyterian Church, 8th and Austin, with the Rev. Jimmie Johnson officiating.

For the past three years, Laurn made weekly visits to MD Anderson for countless tests, scans and chemo treatments. In spite of the very tough side effects of her treatments and the endless travel, she never once complained. In fact, she did her best to make those laugh at the situation. A simple pleasure was her dad running her in a wheelchair, through the long corridors at MD Anderson. During each doctor's visit, Laurn would always tell them, "If you don't have good news for me, don't say anything." Laurn was always in the company of her husband, Scott, her brother, Doug, Mom and Dad, or her aunt, Dianne.

Laurn was born in Tyler, Texas, and moved to Waco and graduated from Waco High School. She was a Hedonia Debutante. She received a BA degree from Texas Christian University, majoring in textile design. She has been working on a Master's degree from NTSU, Denton. While at TCU, she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She has been employed by several major companies, designing textiles for children's clothing. More recently she has been a freelance designer and many of her designs can be seen today in major department stores throughout the country. She enjoyed speaking to textile design classes at several universities in the area.

Her artistic talent was incredible and was displayed in the creation of invitations, paintings for the girls, hand painted tiles, pottery and many TCU theme items for her Avery Grace and Ella.

Laurn was a lover of snow skiing and scuba diving. For many years, she skied the slopes of Colorado and Big Sky, Mont., teaching her girls the finery of getting down the mountain in one piece although suffering an ACL tear only to return the next year for more fun.

Laurn became a certified scuba diver at age 11. Her air tank weighed as much as she did, requiring special assistance from her dad while departing the dive boat. She loved the sea life and was often seen, standing on the bottom of the ocean with swarms of fish in search of a hand out.

In the past few months, she was dedicated in seeing that her precious Avery Grace and Ella would visit all the Disney characters in Orlando. And only weeks ago, she made their annual family trip to the beaches of Florida.

In June "Team Laurn" of Swim Across America raised over $38,000 for a clinical trial hospital in the Dallas area.

The love of her life was Scott, her devoted husband of 14 years. Scott was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church in Waco the night before their marriage.

But the true legacy of Laurn is her two beautiful daughters, Avery Grace and Ella Tate. The girls exemplify the gentle but loving nature of their mother and also their mom's incredible artistic talent. Both have received state and national acclaim for original paintings. Many of the paintings are themes relating to children and cancer. Laurn was so proud of her girls and loved the beauty and grace each brought to their friends, teachers and all they met.

Laurn has always believed she would be in the stands this fall, cheering on her TCU Horned Frogs and the girls' hero, Ty Horn. For the past two seasons, the family could be found tailgating and cheering for their Alma Mater. "Froggies," you may have some divine intervention this year from a purple winged angel.

Laurn is survived by her husband of 14 years, Scott Schroeder; daughters, Avery Grace, 11, and Ella Tate, 8; brother, Douglass Martin Boehner of Frisco; mother and father, Kay Honey and David Boehner.

The family is so thankful for the professional, loving care given to Laurn at MD Anderson and Fort Worth Baylor All Saints Hospital. Also she was tenderly loved and cared for by Ardent Hospice during her final days at home.

Laurn was surrounded by so many friends during her last few days. By a gentle squeeze of her hand, she let them know she knew they were there and she could hear them.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the "Avery Grace, Ella Schroeder Education Trust Fund" C/O: First National Bank, McGregor, P.O. Box 387, McGregor, Texas, 76657.

Please sign the online register at www.gracegardensfh.com.

December 16, 1970 - August 26, 2011

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