My story with Laura starts back in the 1960’s when our parents met through Graduate School at U of Arizona and became best friends for life. I have the fondest childhood memories of our time with the Conway’s and the friendship and bond that our parents shared was both inspiring and enviable. As kids Laura and I shared great times together when our families had reunions. Our parents continued to meet up regularly throughout their lives never letting distance weaken their strong friendship commitment. Through them we kids always kept up with each other but it wasn’t until January of 2020 that Laura and I reunited as adults in Tucson. We gathered at Marcus and Bill’s place for dinner and from that day on Laura and I stayed in touch and began a new chapter vowing to carry on with the beautiful friendship that our parents started all those years ago. For nearly three years we enjoyed each other via emails, phone calls and texts sharing stories from our childhood days, catching each other up on our kids’ lives and talking a lot about our parents, spouses, friends. Never have I felt such a strong connection with a friend in such a short amount of time. Even though we had our family history and already knew each other it was Laura and her ability to draw a person in that launched our new found adult relationship. When we talked Laura was so sincerely interested in all that was going on with me and my family and so eager to tell me about hers that it was like immersing in a really good book. I could not wait for the next page, the next chapter and I hoped that book would never end. Laura was someone that listened with her whole self and when you told her something she never forgot what you said. In fact, she referenced it later in another conversation intertwined in such a way that you felt so heard and so valued and a smile spread across your face – a smile almost as big and bright as yours, Laura. But not quite because I have never seen a brighter, more beautiful smile – one that lit up your eyes and formed dimples so big I swear it made me smile bigger just thinking about it! And the truth is I had seen that smile before as it is the same smile Laura’s mother had and it lit up the room! I believe this smile is so telling of Laura’s overall personality – full of love, light, compassion, spirit, and joy. When Laura was fighting her battle with cancer I told her that she was a Warrior. She was my Warrior Friend. She fought courageously, she never gave up and she never complained. She was more concerned about everyone else and she was such a positive and brilliant soul. She told me once that she didn’t always feel like a Warrior but she liked the idea of at least trying to attain the title. Well Laura, not only were you a Warrior you taught us all what the fight should look like and you walked through your toughest battle with dignity and a love for others like I have never seen. You are and will always be my Warrior Friend. Thank you for the blessing of knowing and being a part of you and your family and for being such a gentle but strong and kindhearted force – you left the world a better place. Laura, our hearts are broken and filled with sadness but they are also full and beaming and richer because you are in them forever.