Laurie Elaine Kirven

Laurie Elaine Kirven, loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on June 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas after a hard-fought battle with cancer at the age of 61. 

Laurie was born on March 5, 1963, in Houston, Texas to C. Dean and Karen Lee Quick Walker. Laurie grew up in Houston, and attended Second Baptist School and Landrum Junior High. In 1977, Laurie and her family moved to the Katy, Texas area and Laurie attended Katy High School. While attending Katy High School, Laurie met her future husband, Wayne, in tenth grade in French class. They were friends for several years before they started dating in March of 1981. Laurie and Wayne both graduated from Katy High School with the Class of ’81, then attended Baylor University in the fall. Laurie and Wayne had both already been accepted and decided to attend Baylor before they started dating. Since only six people from their graduating class attended Baylor, this was a sign that they were meant to be. Laurie enjoyed her years at Baylor and joined the service club Angel Flight. She had fun participating in different service projects on the Baylor campus and around Waco. She also enjoyed attending football games, Angel Flight dances, and other Baylor events with Wayne. Laurie married the love of her life, Wayne Eric Kirven, on August 4, 1984, right before their senior year of college. Laurie graduated from Baylor in May of 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Sociology. Laurie and Wayne moved to Austin, in May of 1985, and they have been here ever since. Laurie taught for six years in Austin ISD at the elementary and middle school level. After having four children, Laurie resigned from Austin ISD and worked at Crestview Baptist Mother’s Morning Out program for six years teaching three- and four-year-olds. She really enjoyed spending time with her own children and teaching two days a week at the church. After all of Laurie’s children started school, she substituted for two years in Austin ISD. In 1999, Pflugerville ISD offered Laurie a teaching position at River Oaks Elementary, and she has now been there twenty-four years. Laurie made many wonderful friends at River Oaks and touched many children’s lives.

Besides teaching children in church programs, Girl Scouts, and in the public schools, Laurie enjoyed traveling all over the United States and got to see all fifty states. She also traveled to Japan years ago and to Canada more recently. Laurie was actively involved in her church, Hillcrest Baptist Church, and enjoyed studying God’s word with other believers. Laurie also loved to listen to different kinds of music, play games with family and friends, and watch tv, movies, and plays. She enjoyed spending time with her family. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Kirven, whom she was married to for 37 years; mother, Karen Walker, father-in-law, Charles Kirven; sister-in-law, Phyllis Martinez; brother-in-law, Gary Harmond; and all her grandparents. 

Laurie is survived by her daughter Christine and husband Adam Clear of Elgin, daughter Kimberly and husband Eric Mitchell of Elgin, son Allen Kirven of Austin, and daughter Alicia and husband Spencer Hittle of El Paso; her eight grandchildren Anthony Clear, Brandon Clear, Matthew Clear, Zachary Mitchell, Heather Kirven, Victor Kirven, Seth Hittle, and Aaron Hittle. Laurie also leaves behind her father C. Dean Walker of Belton, her sister Karen and husband Tom Norman of Cabot, Arkansas, her mother-in-law Viola Kirven of Houston; her brother-in-law Raul Martinez of Brookshire, and her sister-in-law Cynthia Harmond of Houston; as well as numerous extended family and dear friends.

Family and Friends will gather for Visitation at Hillcrest Baptist Church of Austin, Friday June 14th from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM, with a Celebration of Laurie’s Life at 1:00 PM with Pastor Tom Goodman presiding.  Interment will follow at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery of Pflugerville.

The family request Memorial Contributions to be made in Laurie’s Memory to the American Cancer Society, Hillcrest Baptist Church Benevolence Fund, or River Oaks Elementary Backpack Friends.