Laura Lee Whitson, 73, of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away on Sunday, April 25, 2021. She was born on September 13, 1947 in Fort Smith to Carl and Eunice (Mendenhall) Whitson. A 1965 graduate of Fort Smith Northside High School, Laura went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the College of the Ozarks and a Master’s Degree in Education from Arkansas Tech. Teaching was one of her many gifts, and she used this gift to nurture children at Howard Elementary and Trusty Elementary in the Fort Smith Public School System for 39 years. After retiring, she worked part-time at Valley Behavioral Health and volunteered as a CASA caseworker. Laura was a true advocate for children. She was also active in the community and had a passion for reading prompting her involvement with The Friends of the Fort Smith Public Library where she served as President of the organization. She was an active member of the Altrusa Club and a volunteer for The Clearinghouse and other charitable organizations. Perhaps most of all, Laura was devoted to God. As a longtime member of Unity Baptist Church, and later, Central Baptist Church, she used her gift for teaching children in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and as a leader in the Youth Department, taking many teenagers to Bogg Springs Baptist Church Camp. Laura was a tremendous blessing to family and friends and the occasional stranger in need, and the world was a better place with her in it. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Dale Whitson, a sister, Carlene Swearingen, and a nephew, Evan Williams.
Funeral services are Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 2pm at Community Bible Church in Fort Smith under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Viewing will be from 4-7 on Thursday, April 29 at the funeral home.
She is survived by her three sisters, Mary Williams and her husband Dennis of Greenwood, AR, Marcie Elliott and her husband Darrell of Van Buren, AR and Nancy Whitson of Fort Smith; her nieces and nephews, Davi Smith, Andrew, Adam and Matthew Elliott, Amy McClure, Kari Hempel, Monte Whitson and Greg Boley; her great nieces and nephews, Emma and John David Smith, Niko and Magnolia Hempel, Jackson Elliott, Nora Costner, Tanner and Tori Porter, Tristan Boley, and Amaya Whitson, as well as a host of extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Community Services Clearinghouse, Fort Smith Public Library, and CASA of Sebastian County.