Laura Rose Tom

Laura Rose Tom

Staut-o-mish

Sunrise: April 1, 1954

Sunset: January 4, 2026

Father: Lawrence "Spaghetti" Tom

Mother: Katherine Tom (Scott)

Born in Bellingham, WA

Laura was born to Lawrence "Spaghetti" and Katherine Tom. She was the second eldest of 13 children. Grandma Katherine used to tell us about when she would bathe them all and get all the children ready to walk to the Catholic church. Grandma used to bring water from the well to the house and had to wash all the clothes by hand. She always handmade their clothes as well. All her siblings are Lawrence "Newt," Ralph, Tom-Tom, Keith, Johnny, Jean, Joyce, Jerome, Lorita, Randy, Steve, and Peter-Baby. The family received a blessing from the archbishop when the 12th child was born. All the kids used to live in Tom-Tom's and Grandma Dane's house on Scott Road. The red house was built in 1972.

Laura got married to Ralph Solomon on her brother Newt's birthday, March 14, 1969. She was only 15 when she got married. In 1970, they had a daughter named Tomasina Ann, Stephanie Sue was born in 1972, and Brad Lee was born in 1975. Tassie and Stephanie always had to have matching outfits for Easter.

She attended Lummi Community College and got her associate's degree. She worked as a teacher aide for Head Start in the 1980s and later in Records and Archives for Lummi, which she really enjoyed.

She enjoyed traveling with the Children of the Setting Sun and making regalia. She enjoyed pulling a canoe and playing softball. They had their own softball team called the Wolfpack. She also liked to watch her kids playing softball and pulling a canoe.

She fished on the gill netter called the "Shushu." She loved to read books, even if she had read them before. She loved sharing her teachings with kids, grandkids, and numerous nieces and nephews. The teachings were sometimes stern, but they were always delivered out of love. But she always had a way to make you smile or laugh.

She had severe rheumatoid arthritis and was diagnosed at the age of 32. She never let it bring her down and always wanted to live independently. She lived at Little Bear since 2016. She had so much love for her 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, and they were the joy in her life.

In December 2025, she was on hospice care. There wasn't much else we could do other than make her comfortable. They were so helpful and good to her. She had a massage therapist and acupuncture. The hospice care was a blessing in the last few weeks of her life. We are thankful for the hospice care staff for respecting all her boundaries and wishes. She is now rejoicing with our ancestors on the other side.

Survived by her siblings: Ralph (Kelli) Tom, Jean (Leroy) Revey, Joyce (Jesse) Wall, Jerome Tom, Lorita Tom, and Peter (Boe) Tom.

Children: Thomasina (Robert) George, Stephanie (Mugs) Solomon, Brad (Deanna) Solomon.

Grandchildren: Laura (Oliver), Sarah Thomas, Brian (Shalayleeyah), Ralph (Liana), Loni Lea (Gerald), Aleasah, Traci (Bradley), and Ester.

Great-grandchildren: Emily, Abby, Briani, Derek, Riley, Dalena, Tylen, Leon, Michael, Kylea, Ambrose, and Alayana.

Preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Katherine Tom.

Brothers: Lawrence Tom "Newt", Thomas Tom "Tom-Tom", Keith Tom, John Tom, Randy Tom, Steven Tom Sr.

Nieces: Lindsey Greene, Donna Tom.

Nephews: Jerome Tom Jr., Eli Wall, Randy Tom Jr.