Laura Lindquist Preston

Laura Lindquist Preston, age 51, went home to the Lord on July 4, 2017, in Houston, Texas, after a courageous 20-month battle with metastatic breast cancer. A precious child of God; truly remarkable and loving mother; dedicated wife; and devoted daughter, sister, aunt, friend, mentor and teacher - Laura was born on October 9, 1965, in Highland Park, Illinois, to John and Karen (Feil) Lindquist. Laura grew up in the Midwest and Houston before attending and then graduating from The University of Texas (1988 – BA, Psychology; 1990 – BS, Special Education) and The University of Houston (1995 - MA, Education Leadership). Laura was an outstanding elementary school teacher and Assistant Principal for seven years, earning Teacher of the Year awards twice. After beginning her teaching career, Laura married Charles Preston in July 1991, and they had three children. While Laura was a gifted teacher, she was an even more so mother. Loving, compassionate, dedicated, hard-working, and wise, Laura diligently and joyfully lived a life of selfless love.

Additionally, Laura worked actively in Regents School of Austin, which two of her children still attend, with her church, Ridge Southwest, and in participating in Bible studies and supporting ministries that advocate for life, serving the underprivileged, and at-risk children. Laura loves her Lord, her family, her friends, cooking, traveling (especially to the Frio River and to Africa), hiking, hot tea and curling up with a good book. She so enjoyed traveling with her family and reading with and to her children. We will miss her and her radiant smile immensely, but also know that our goodbye is not "farewell" but rather "until we meet again."

She leaves behind her husband Charles, her two daughters, Emma (19) and Abby Elizabeth (12) and her son, Benjamin (16). She also leaves behind her mother, Karen Lindquist (Houston), sisters Kristin Lindquist (Houston) and husband Karl Decker, and Jeanne Wisniewski (Austin), and her two brothers, John Lindquist (and wife Debbie) and Peter Lindquist (Houston) and wife Tanya. She is also survived by several wonderful nieces and nephews and by many friends. She is predeceased by her father, John Lindquist, and brother, David Lindquist.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the lovely people at Austin Cancer Center and MD Anderson, specifically nurses Lavernne, Lili, and Derrick, and doctors Alison Gorrebeeck and Vivek Subbiah, who provided kind and wonderful care to Laura. Thanks also to the many, many friends who supported Laura and her family with prayers, dinners, errands, and especially love. Finally, a profound thank you to Jeanne Wisniewski and Shelley Malachowski, whose steadfast support and care of Laura are an amazing expression of faithful love.

A Memorial Service for Laura will be held at Austin Ridge Bible Church, 9300 Bee Cave Road, Austin, Texas, 78733, on Monday, July 10, 2017, at 3:00 pm, with the Reverend Mark Adams presiding. Memorial gifts in Laura's memory can be made to Tru Care/South Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, at 4611 Manchaca Road, Austin, Texas, 78745, www.saprc.org.