Laurie Allison McElroy

Helen once said a person isn't dead until no one alive can remember them. The Express Mail box on my close bookshelf with half a dozen trinkets of her life reminds me of her quite often, but it took a 'bot' e-mail from Legacy to remind me her memorial service was nine years ago next week and her death six months before that.
I do remember. It is as easy now as it was then to recall our time in each others company.
And I stand behind what I told others who knew her, "I have philosophical disagreement with Don McLean: I think this world was meant for all, even people as beautiful as Laurie."

Houston 20-Jun-2020 / DJSloan

I knew Laurie when I was a teenager and was smitten by her beauty. We had the amazing experience years later of randomly running in to eachother many states away from MN. Sweet memories of a sweet person.

Houston / 5th-July-2011

The miles and years strain the ethereal strands of the web that Laurie wove.

With grief and realization of my loss, I search for the memories I have of our time in each others’ company and find that they are like old photographs, warmed and softened with time, stored and moved so often that they must be sought as the treasures they are.

I can laugh at some, like the morning visit to her house that ended with a ten-penny nail in the front tire of my bicycle.

Most were ordinary, pleasant, warm, and comfortable: Brief conversations in the hallway, unplanned time on a short walk, or words to fill time and space while she waited for someone else.

Others, like the incongruous beauty of Hugh’s funeral service, bring tears even after decades.

To all she loved and all who loved her, I offer heartfelt condolences, thoughts of hope, and a philosophical disagreement with Don McLean: I think this world was meant for all, even people as beautiful as Laurie.

DJSloan

For all who loved Laurie McElroy
St. Louis Park and ‘round the world

I am another cousin who loved and will miss Laurie with all my heart. We especially had terrific fun times when we were kids and our mothers would organize fun outings like Excelsior amusement park and Stagecoach Theater melodramas.

Didn't see Laurie so much as we got older, but when I did I always appreciated her delightful personality and almost childlike enthusiam. I hope she had some concept about what a great person she was and how many lives she touched.

It will be fun to see some of the other cousins at the memorial gathering. I only wish Laurie could be there too!

After church many Sundays we would stop by and visit with aunt Virgin, uncle Gordon, cousins Hugh, Cathy, & Laurie. Laurie being the last standing for a few years, they were always kind and great people.
Thank you for the memories.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of my cousin Laurie. Her family's story seems to be one of tragedy with the untimely deaths of her brother Hugh and her twin Cathy. These events must have been a heavy burden for her to carry throughout much of her adult life. My sympathies to her relatives and friends.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of my cousin Laurie. Her family's story seems to be one of tragedy with the untimely deaths of her brother Hugh and her twin Cathy. These events must have been a heavy burden for her to carry throughout much of her adult life. My sympathy to all of Laurie's friends and relatives.

Laurie was brilliant and funny and talented and strong. She suffered great loss in her short life and it wore on her; how could it not? I wish more than anything I had been able to spend more time with her when she moved to AZ. The few days we had together were spectacular and I am grateful we were able to reconnect, even if it was only for a weekend. Nothing quite compares to sharing childhood memories with a cousin you love. I laughed until my face hurt. I will miss her.

It saddens me deeply to see Laurie pass at such a young age. All of the McElroy's seemd to me to be an almost impossible ideal of family and friendship, yet they were quite humble and quite human as well. Laurie, Cathie, and Hugh were like older siblings to us Hanson's in our earlier years. I recall that the girls were over on Easter one time and took turns answering our phone "He has risen..." and snickering at the surprised response of the callers who expected a welcome less "churchy" to say the least. I recall seeing plays they put on and many walks and games at family functions. These things and more will live on in my memories and some will be passed to my son as well. I am grateful for having had Laurie in my life.

The many Sunday visits with my brothers and sisters to the McElroy's house (1960's) fill a big place in my heart. Laurie, Cathie and Hugh instigating so much fun for us younger cousins. I am saddened by your loss.

We miss you Laurie. I'm glad that you are in a place where you can be happy once more.

I will always remeber Laurie with her pretty smile and cheerfulness as we celebrated christmas at our aunt Carol's. Sorry I will not be able to attend the memorial but I will think of Laurie with the fondest of memories.