Laura Jo McKamey
Shelby —Laura Jo Parker McKamey, 55, a speech language pathologist from Shelby passed away May 13, 2013 due to a car accident south of Sunburst. She was struck from behind by a semi-truck during a white out by the alkali flats. The visitation is Friday, May 17th from 1:00 until 8:00 pm, at the Whitted Funeral Chapel of Shelby. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 18th at 10:30 am in the Shelby High School Gymnasium. There will be a luncheon to follow at the LDS church at 915 Westwood Ave. Graveside services are 1:00 pm, Monday at the Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. Survivors include Laura Jo's husband, Alvin McKamey; her children, Brandon and Kristal McKamey, Russell and Brigette McKamey, Sandra Jo McKamey, Alvin James "AJ" McKamey, and Lucas McKamey; and her three grandchildren, Kyra McKamey, Porter McKamey, and Logan McKamey. She is also survived by her parents David and Wyoma Parker; her brother and sisters, Bruce Parker (Jan), Rebecca Wheeler (Denis), Jill Howells, and Shaula Holt (Kelly); as well as many nieces and nephews.
Laura Jo was born in Great Falls, MT, on September 21, 1957. Her father was an Air Force Navigator and she had lived in Montana, Utah, and Alabama. After he retired, the family settled in Bountiful, Utah, where she grew up and graduated from Viewmont High School in 1975. She attended Brigham Young University where she studied Elementary Education. She then went to the Utah State University to get her master's degree in Speech Language Pathology. Laura Jo married Alvin McKamey on June 17, 1980 in the Logan Utah Temple. They had five children. She has lived in Shelby since 1990 where she had become a large part of the community. Laura Jo was involved in Special Olympics, Destination Imagination, Fine Arts Parents, and any other program her children were involved in. She loved to sew and quilt and watch basketball games while reading the complete works of Shakespeare. She will always be remembered as a multitasking magician accomplishing things in a day that did not seem possible.
Laura Jo was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in every capacity that she was asked. She had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and the healing power of the Atonement. She was loved by all who knew her and her influence will be forever remembered.
Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
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My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Laura Jo was a beautiful and multi-talented person who loved her kids soooo much. We will miss her at Speech & Drama meets.
Linda Lett
June 6, 2013
Dear Alvin and Family,
Such sorrow to hear of your loss. Laura was such a positive presence in my life, and I will remember her always.
My most sincere condolences.
Tom Myers
May 29, 2013
Alvin and Family, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. We are so sorry for your loss.
Dale and Lilly(McBride)LeVeque & family
May 20, 2013
Alvin and family,
Thank you so much for allowing me to be involved with Laura Jo's funeral. What a beautiful tribute to an amazing woman! Our prayers will continue to be with you and your sweet family. We love you.
Stephanie Lybbert Albach
May 19, 2013
Dear Alvin & family,
We loved Laura Jo and feel your loss and grief. Our prayers are with you as you recover and endure.
Fred Fairhurst
May 18, 2013
Dear Alvin and family,
Our sympathy and prayers go out to you.
With Love,
Scott and Lori Haynes
May 17, 2013
I will always remember you as my second mother, and one of my favorite people in the world. I wish I could write this with a pen instead of a keyboard, somehow this just doesn't seem as sincere. I wish I could go to your funeral, or see you one last time, or anything... but I promise I will visit your grave. You helped mold me into who I am today, I hope you knew that.
Joel Grimes
May 17, 2013
Laura Jo is the kindest person. She was always serving someone else and did it with the softest words and demeanor. She will definitely be missed. We have your family in our prayers and hope they find comfort in knowing you are with our Father in Heaven.
Todd Lybbert
May 16, 2013
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Laura Jo had infectious joy and always had stories that both amazed and made us laugh. She was faithful, coming to our SLP CEU Book Club Meeting in Great Falls with a delicious dish in hand. Her biggest accomplishment in which she was most proud was her children. I consider myself so lucky to have known her and call her a friend. My thoughts and prayers to her family. I can't help but hear the laughter of Laura Jo and our SLP friend Jan Duncan in heaven.
Amanda Klaus
May 16, 2013
I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. LauraJo was a true champion of the profession of speech language pathology for the clients and her colleagues. She has touched those she met. I am blessed to have known her - she was such an amazing and inspirational lady. I'm a better person because of her.
We shared a bond because of our sons - AJ and Josh. The stories we shared about them are special and memorable. When she heard Josh's twin, Jack, loved the state of Montana (after taking a camping and backpacking trip there with his dad), she made sure he received booklets and memorabilia from the Secretary of State's office. She was so giving - always thinking of others.
I will treasure my memories from our time at ASHA SEAL meetings, CSAP meetings, and ASHA Conventions. In 2011, she was honored and recognized as a true leader when she was the recipient of the McKinley Leadership Award for CSAP. She traveled to Charleston to receive that honor. MSHA received $1000 in her name - which was a great tribute to all she has done for MSHA and the field of speech language pathology in Montana. I remember how excited she was when a speech language pathology program was re-instated at the University of Montana and 31 students graduated in 2011. She had a presence in the legislature - she fought hard for what she believed and for what was right for the profession.
I know she will be missed by the Special Olympics. She was so involved with that program. She was always proud of AJ's accomplishments and those of the other Olympians.
God has truly gained a special angel. May God bless your family as you honor and remember Laura Jo for all she is, did, and was. She will always be in our hearts.
Carol Fleming
May 16, 2013
Alvin and family and the McKamey family~ Very saddened to read about Laura Jo's passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers during this time. Matt, Jr, Sandy, Mathias and Karolina Pepos
Sandy Pepos
May 16, 2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We send our love.
Cindy Hagen
May 15, 2013
Our sympathies to each of the members of her family. We loved spending time with Laura Jo and still have a painting she gave us hanging in our home.
Scott and Kristina Lybbert
May 15, 2013
Dearest Alvin,
My heart is with you. I cannot imagine what this must be like. Know I think of you every now and then and always, always smile.
Much love to you and your family,
Wanda Meer Pojar
Wanda Meer Pojar
May 15, 2013
I feel very fortunate to have met and become friends with Laura Jo way back in our college days, and to be one of the many, many people whose lives were made better because we knew her. I am glad I got to speak with her recently, and to hear her again express her love and concern for her children and family members, who were always at the center of her life.
To her parents, brother, sisters, husband, children, grandchildren and all who loved her, may God's love and peace rest upon you in this difficult time, and may the knowledge of the eternities bring comfort in the midst of your grief.
Scott Hansen
May 15, 2013
Words cannot express. I deeply loved Laura Jo and her family.
Pru Lybeck
May 15, 2013
Laura Jo always had a smile on her face and made you feel better. She will be missed. Prayers are with the family.
Susan and Jim Lamb
May 15, 2013
Allan & I would like to express or sympathies at this time in your life. Our prayers are with you.
Allan & Katrina Carpenter
May 15, 2013
Mckamey family.. so sad to hear about your loss our prayers are with your family i know she will be greatly missed by all. keep her in your heart an in your memory an know that you will see her again....
Tim an Marlo Brown
May 15, 2013
Deepest sympathy to all Laura Jo's family and friends. She leaves a deep and wide void. A few weeks ago Laura Jo left the following message in my mail box at NTCHS. It really epitomizes Laura Jo. "Some people come into our lives and quietly go. Others stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same." Bless you, Laura Jo.
Jeanne Fairhurst
May 15, 2013
Your family is in our thoughts at this difficult time.
Quality Life Concepts
May 15, 2013
Alvin,
My sincere heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Sending you peaceful loving thoughts.
Julie Meer
May 15, 2013
Laura Jo was a light in my brother's life. She understood him like no one else could. Her selflessness is an inspiration and will continue to be so. This world is at a loss without her. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. May you find comfort through God and through her memory.
May 15, 2013
Alvin and family,
We were so sad to hear of your loss. I know Laura Jo touched our lives, along with countless others and she will be greatly missed. I will never forget being in Primary with her. She loved those kids and knew the right things to do and say to get them to listen and help them learn. We wish we could be there with you but just know that we love you and you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Michelle and Jason Humpherys
May 15, 2013
Laura Jo touched so many lives and made them better. Her dedication to Special Olympics and Relay For Life and other causes was amazing. She was a special lady with a special smile and so talented. She was generous with her time and talent. Our Relay For Life and our team will greatly miss her. I am so glad I was able to visit with her Thurs. She was a special lady and will be missed.
To Laura Jo's family, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and that your wife, mother, grandmother was an amazing women who deeply loved you and was proud of you.
Linda Wadman
May 15, 2013
Alvin and family,
I am so sorry for your loss! I have such fond memories of LJ and your family. Her laugh was so contagious. My prayers are with you in this time. Love to you,
Ernie
Ernie Wiltse
May 15, 2013
My heart goes out to you and your family.
Jannette Nilsen Brekke
May 15, 2013
Alvin & Family, I am so very sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you are feeling. My family is praying for yours.
Bryan Thies
May 15, 2013
Family and friends of Laura Jo,
The world seems a little less full now but the Heavens are so much brighter..
Laura Jo will be greatly missed by all who had the blessing of having her touch our lives... My 2 older kids had her for speech.. The caring and kindness that she showed all her students is a tribute to the beautiful spirit that was and is forever Laura Jo
you as her loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers of both my family and my self...... Becky Powell
May 15, 2013
I and the S.O. CMR AMT Team will miss Laura Jo so much. She was very faithful in coming to Great Falls every month to attend our Special Olympic meetings. She was a true inspiration to us. Regardless of the event for Special Olympics, even in Great Falls, Laura Jo would take the time to support the athletes. We will miss her greatly and will always think kindly of her generosity and very giving spirit. Sincerely, CMR AMT Team
Star Darko
May 14, 2013
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