Laurie Lenamond

Laurie Kay Lenamond, Founder and Managing Director of Laurie's Rarities, passed away peacefully in her Houston home on 11/15/2024, beside her loving spouse, Char Hinton-Lenamond. Laurie and Char spent 27 blissful years together.

Laurie was a proud fourth generation Texan, born in Longview, Texas, to Norris and Mary Ann (nee Finley) Lenamond (now both deceased). Laurie had many hobbies, and she especially loved to travel. She visited several different countries, including: the Holy Lands of Israel, Scotland, England, Wales, The Bermudas, British Virgin Islands, Switzerland, Luxemborg, Brussels, Spain, Canada, and Mexico. Laurie cherished meeting different people of diverse backgrounds and customs. She was a fantastic cook and frequently made traditional recipes from scratch or from her travels. Her famed dishes included broccoli and mushroom brunch quiche; black-eyed peas, Cajun rice, with blackened catfish; and Indian tofu vegetable korma over couscous, with garlic naan. She could also make a mean margarita.

As a teen, her best friends, Karen and Andrea, often took weekend jaunts to Acapulco or Mazatlan. Often times in the 70s she would be disco dancing with good friend Sam Smith or David LaVeer. Laurie was an active person who enjoyed dancing, skateboarding, water skiing, deep sea diving, snow skiing, gun marksmanship, and biking. She finished her STP run -- an annual Seattle, WA to Portland, OR two day supported bicycle ride - of 216 miles.

She vacationed in 46 of the 50 states during her life. Prior to her death, Laurie and Char hoped to visit Kyoto, Japan to visit the Saiho -ji Rinzai Zen Temple during the East Asian Rainy Season. Laurie was learning Japanese prior to her passing.

For the first part of her career, Laurie dedicated herself to social work. After graduating from Houston Baptist University and working on her MSW in Vermont. She was briefly married to Lance Setliff (of Houston, TX), and, following divorce, converted to Buddhism. She then worked with cognitively challenged young adults at the Houston Center for the Retarded. While living in Seattle, WA, and working at Mercer Inn (a residential women's facility for the chronically mentally ill) she worked under now Pastor Todd Nelson (of Palm Beach, CA). Todd is a charming and engaging man. Laurie and Char enjoyed a close friendship with Todd for over 25 years. Laurie provided case management to the chronically mentally ill at CPC, where she made many solid friends, including: Katie Malone, Shelby Osborne, Farhad Vahdani and Tammy Baker, Carol and Pat Drake, Margaret Ward and Peggy, Rhonda Smith and Jan Fields, and Todd Oliver (all of Seattle, WA). When Laurie and Char moved to Edwall, Laurie worked on the Homeless Outreach Team for SMH and they became good friends with David Hoisington and Kathy, famed mountain climber Bobby Ordner, Jeanette Woolard, Liz Blankenship, and Dr. Alicia Duran (all of Spokane, WA). Later, she used her specialized forensic training to work with the Dangerously Mentally Ill Offenders at the state hospital. After their sons' graduation from High School, Laurie and Char moved back to Houston, where Laurie worked for the prestigious Menninger Clinic.

During the mid part of her career, Laurie decided to pursue her love of music. Laurie was a talented multi-instrumentalist who became proficient in piano in early childhood and played in band through middle school. Her favorite instruments were guitar and cello. Laurie was trained to play guitar by famed classical guitar recording artist, Michael Partington. Years later, she found herself yearning for the melodic street sounds of Spain, where she lived for a time, during college. She spent time learning from renowned Flamenco guitarist, Lalo de Pilar. Together, the two played live events in East Texas. Laurie's most recent endeavor was learning to play Sitar. Her great sense of humor typically had her warming up, and playfully pretending to be George Harrison (of The Beatles) or Brian Jones (of The Rolling Stones).

Laurie opened her collectables shop in 2014 in Houston. Laurie loved to rock and was a serious vinyl audiophile. Her first concert at 13 was Elvis; her second, at 15, was Led Zeppelin. After that, she saw hundreds of bands, met many, and collected press kits, autographs, conducted interviews, etc. In 2014, she opened her store. Her vision of an exclusive shop that sold hard-to-find hard rock, heavy metal, punk, goth, and electronica will continue to be celebrated @ www.lauries.rocks in 2025 when it reopens.

Laurie regularly led the fam in volunteer work at the food bank and at the local animal shelter (rehabilitating and socializing abused dogs so that they can get adopted). Laurie also donated her time as a phlebotomist on multiple blood drives. She had many favorite charities, including: Providing School Supplies to Impoverished Children of Africa; Southern India Rural Village efforts to assist in Literacy for Women; Building a Skateboard Park for Native teens; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Alzheimers Association; and the American Heart Association. She loved the new media landscape of the 21st Century, and was a patreon of podcasts by David Packman, Adam Mockler, Meidas Touch's Tennessee Brando, and Zen Buddhist Priest Brad Warner.

Laurie is survived by her spouse, Char; her two stepsons, Matthew Hinton and wife Heather Hinton (of Spokane, WA); Michael Hinton (of Spokane, WA); and two grandchildren, Evan Hinton and Ryker Hinton (both of Spokane, WA). She is survived by older brother, Darrell Lenamond and wife Cathy Lenamond (of Ocala, FL), brothers-in-law Sean O'Connor (of Alameda, CA), Danny O'Connor (of Spokane, WA), former Sister in Law, Pauline Lenamond (of Houston, TX), and Father-in-law Jerry O'Connor (of Seattle, WA). Laurie was close to her family and enjoyed spending time with them. Laurie is the beloved Auntie to Kelly O'Connor (of Sacramento, CA), Lisa O'Connor (of Redmond, WA), Paige Lenamond (of Houston, TX), Ashleigh Lenamond (of Houston, TX), and Jacob Lenamond (of New York City, NY). Multiple extended relatives survive her also.

Laurie was a huge animal lover. Throughout her life, she never lived without a pet. She leaves behind her cherished two pure-bred show-quality Scottish Collies, Raj and Lilly.

Laurie participated in the Buddhist formal ceremony of Ti Samana Gamana, "Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures of the Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha." Char was beaming with happiness to witness Laurie's commitment to this integral rite. As a result of her long-time faith in the Zen tradition, Laurie's remains will be cremated without memorial. Char will perform the tolling of the Kansho, lighting of Incense, and recital of the "Diamond Sutra," and "Heart of Perfect Wisdom" prayer for 49 days. This will assist Laurie's soul's journey toward enlightenment, as per The Tibetan ritual and as were Laurie's final wishes.

If you wish to assist Char with crippling medical costs, legal expenses, and seed money for the continuation of Laurie's Rarities, please make a donation at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-char-honor-lauries-legacy?utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&attribution_id=sl%3A2aa947cb-ab6e-46a9-b302-793d365316b3. All donations are appreciated.