Laurel Jean LeLoup

Born in Albany, New York, Laurel was the first of the four children of Jean Sorensen LeLoup and Theodore Eugene LeLoup. She started school in the Bridgeville, Pennsylvania area and graduated from Shaker High School in Latham, New York, in 1965. A graduate of New York’s Cortland State University in 1970 with a B.S.E, and in 1980 with an M.S.E., Laurel was a member of the Theta Phi Sorority. She began her career teaching physical education in upstate New York. In 1979, she moved to Dunnellon, Florida, at the urging of her friends, and Florida became her permanently adopted home. In Florida, Laurel worked for Microdyne Corporation before being employed by the State of Florida, first as a Child Protective Investigator and finishing her career in 2009 as a Family Services Counselor in the Department of Children and Families, Child Care Licensing.

Laurel’s family and friends could always count on her to remember and celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries and/or special occasions with thoughtful, specially designed cards to mark the event. One never knew when an envelope from Laurel would arrive in the mail with a favorite recipe, a newspaper article, or a comic strip that reminded her of the lucky recipient. Her enthusiasm for events and reunions with family and friends was boundless, and she planned with care for such occasions far in advance, often taking the lead in setting up event themes and activities. She seemed to feel that the happiness of all participants would be her greatest joy.

Laurel was also a person of quiet, introspective moments, and she had quite a library of reading material from which she seemed to draw inspiration. She attended Rainbow Lakes United Methodist Church and enjoyed several years of participation in the bell choir.

Her passing, which was unexpected but peaceful, will be a great loss to all who loved her. Laurel was preceded in death by her father, whom she loved dearly and who died when she was just nine, and by her brother, Lance LeLoup, who passed in 2009. Surviving family members include her mother, Jean; siblings, Lynn LeLoup Pennington (and Charlie) and Leif LeLoup (and Hanne); her aunt, Julia Cannon; her sister-in-law, Pam LeLoup; nieces and nephews Emily Pennington Smith (and Kris), Heidi LeLoup Pennington (and Ben Trumbo), Molly LeLoup Dougherty, Leah LeLoup, and Troy LeLoup; great nephew and niece, Maddox and Tessa Smith; and cousin, Bill Cannon (and Suzanne). Additionally, Roberta Wilson and Bea Larsen will miss their long-time, dear friend.

Family and friends will gather sometime next year to celebrate and honor Laurel’s life by releasing her ashes at Daytona Beach, per her request.

Donations in Laurel’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Lance LeLoup Memorial Scholarship Fund established at Washington State University by the WSU Foundation. Checks can be written to "WSU Foundation – Lance LeLoup Memorial" and mailed to WSU Foundation, Pullman, WA 99164-1927.

Gifts may also be made securely online.

Donate online »

https://secure.wsu.edu/foundation/giving/enteramount.asp?fund=Lance%20LeLoup%20Memorial%20Fund

When all is said and done, the love remains.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,

nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,

nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

(Romans 8:38,39)

Contact: Lynn LeLoup Pennington [email protected]

Arrangements under the direction of Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala, FL.