Laura Mae Sturtevant

Laura Mae Sturtevant, born February 6, 1917, in Oakwood, Missouri to Stephen and Margaret Hilt, died on July 22, 2019 at the young age of 102. Farmer’s wife, mother, and grandmother; her life was as full as it was long. From childhood in the ‘20s, to adolescence in the Great Depression, to a young woman during WWII, to her marriage to Loren Sturtevant in 1947, to the raising of their children, Patricia, Debra, and Randal, to the loss of Loren in 1978, to her golden years, Laura Mae never slowed down.She worked at Wendt-Sonis,International Shoe Company, and Newberry Dime Store.She was raised in the Catholic Church, and then joined Akers Chapel Church later in life.

Life on the farm in Hull, Illinois, was both joy and work—hard work but not without a smile, a dance, and a song in her heart. That joy never left her, even in the end, she was humming songs and dancing with her shoulders. She loved to cook, preparing as many as nineteen separate dishes for Thanksgiving, and canning everything in sight including “glow in the dark” pickles. She was a Girl Scout leader, but mostly, a mother, grandmother, and a farmwife (three full-time jobs in and of themselves).

Laura Mae loved to be with her family. She loved road trips. She loved cooking everyone’s favorite food, especially French toast and chocolate cake with chocolate icing. She was a seamstress who loved to sew Halloween costumes for her grandchildren. She enjoyed playing with the grandkids, board game parties with the “ladies,” and just loved laughing at life.

Laura Mae is preceded in death by her husband, Loren, and daughter, Patricia Platt. She is survived by her daughter Debra (Dale Gulick) Jonesof Black Mountain, NC andson Randal Sturtevant of Jacksonville, IL; grandchildren William (Roberta)Platt, Greg Platt, Landon (Kristin)Jones, and Brittnee Jones; and great-grandchildren Caitlin, Willow, and Lilly Platt, and Parker and Zane Jones.

Memorial donations may be made to Stewart Cemetery in Plainville, IL, Holy Family Catholic Church in Hannibal, MO, or the denomination of your choice.

A memorial celebration will be held at a later date.