Lauren Marie Eyres, MD

Lauren “Laurie” Marie Eyres, M.D., 74, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Laurie was born to Lawrence Edward Eyres and Shirley Louise Proper in Elmira, New York.

After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester, Laurie moved to Michigan to attend medical school at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. She graduated in 1977, becoming a fourth-generation healthcare professional at a time when women represented roughly 20 percent of medical school graduates. After medical school, Laurie completed a psychiatric residency and a fellowship in child psychiatry. For more than 40 years, she devoted herself to caring for and advocating on behalf of the mental health community she loved and served.

It was during her time at Michigan State that Laurie met her husband, Normand Gilbert, Ph.D. Together, they planted roots in the Okemos community, where they raised their two children, Erin and Matthew (Samantha), and built and sustained a private practice, working side by side for over three decades in service to the psychiatric community. In some of her final words, Laurie treasured the memory of meeting Norm, calling it one of the greatest moments of her life. In 2025, they celebrated 47 years of marriage. In retirement, they also enjoyed escaping the cold Michigan winters for their sunny retreat in Naples, Florida—a place that brought Laurie warmth, happiness, and several wonderful friendships.

While proud of her professional career, nothing brought Laurie more joy than her family and the love she poured into being a wife, mother, sister, and aunt. Through her endless dedication and countless sacrifices, she gave her children a foundation of love and support that shaped who they are today. Erin followed in her mother’s footsteps, carrying on the family’s legacy as the fifth generation of healthcare professionals, while Matthew inherited her love of numbers and problem-solving, pursuing a career in electrical engineering. She constantly encouraged their dreams and always made sure they knew how proud she was of the people they had become.

Some of Laurie’s greatest loves were gardening and spending time by the water. She always said she was happiest with her hands in the dirt or reading a book while listening to the waves. Time spent by Lake Michigan, Grand Traverse Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic brought Laurie happiness and a deep sense of peace. Especially, Laurie loved time spent with her family. Some of her happiest moments were experienced while traveling the country with her family, discovering new places, and creating memories together. She especially treasured time in Holland, Michigan, and in Florida, with her parents, her sisters Connie and Sharie, her brother-in-law Tom, and her nieces and nephews Mike, Annie, and Catherine. Laurie also treasured memories of upstate New York with her beloved Aunt Bev and Uncle Jim, and cousins Linda and Julie. Also very special to Laurie was time spent with Norm’s family, exploring the beauty of his home state, New Hampshire, and celebrating several Christmases with her in-laws, Edouard and Jeanne, as well as her sisters-in-law, Sue and Jeannine.

Above all, Laurie was an advocate — for her family, for the mental health community she served, and for a kinder, more compassionate world. In accordance with Laurie’s wishes, no memorial or celebration of life is planned. As a deeply caring individual, Laurie believed in helping others and wished that anyone wanting to honor her do so through mindful acts of kindness.