Laura Lee Young

Laura Lee (Williams) Young was born on July 12th, 1970 to Carol (Blanchar) Williams and Larry Williams in Portland, Oregon. Laura entered heaven on September 13th, 2016, surrounded by loved ones; she was 46 years old at the time of her heavenly entry. Laura is survived by her husband Tony Young, daughter Abby Young, son Nick Young and their two dogs, Frankie and Lloyd, mother Carol (Blanchar) Williams, father Larry Williams (Karen), mother-in-law Carol Young (Dannie), sister Theresa (Williams) McNichols (Bob), sister Katie (Williams) Voss (Kevin), step-sister Kristan Shobe (mark), nieces Cheyanne Simon, Ava McNichols, Khloe Voss and her nephew Kannon Voss, all of whom she loved more than life itself.

Laura began school at Jason Lee Elementary, which she attended grades kindergarten through 8th, and Madison High where she finished her formal education and was awarded her high school diploma. In school, Laura was always well liked and made many friends, many of which she knew from elementary days and kept contact with throughout the rest of her life. She played softball and volleyball growing up, but also loved riding horses, skiing, making trips to Rocky Butte and running the local neighborhood. Laura brought out the best in everybody she encountered.

Owning her own business was very important to Laura. After high school, she graduated from Phagans Cosmetology School and began working at a local salon called Aloha Tan and Hair Design. After a few years, she purchased the salon which began her business journey. With the help of girl friend, Erika Harnar, husband Tony and many other friends (and sometimes family) her business flourished. This continued for 3 years even after the birth of her 1st child, Abby. Even after selling the salon, she continued to do hair and nails from home. One thing Laura always had was beautiful nails and a gorgeous smile.

In the fall of 1995, Laura and Tony were married on September 22nd in Seaside, Oregon. The two of them were looking forward to starting a family and settling down together. By 1998 they had two wonderful children, Abby and Nick and started their own construction business called NW Gaslines which still operates today. Laura ran the day-to-day operation of the business from their home while Tony was in the field working. She was able to not only run the business, but also managed to help raise the children as well as being involved with her friends and entire family.

Being a close-knit family was one of the most important things to Laura. She basically decided for everyone where they were going to live (and made sure it was within a two-mile radius of her own house) and when we would get together (which was quite often). “Bossy” isn’t typically used in a positive manner, but for Laura it was. She knew what was best for you and wasn’t afraid to let you know it, and 10 out of 10 times she was right. From family to friends to acquaintances, you could always count on truthful and insightful advice from the one and only Laura Belle.

As the kids grew up, Laura was very involved with their daily activity. From taking Nick and his friends to the skateboard park, to making trips all over the area for Abby’s softball games, she was involved every step of the way. Laura was at every PTA meeting, every coaching clinic and every parent teacher conference. She truly lived for being around all of her loved ones as much as possible. She goes by Auntie to all her “littles”, and was always open door for sleepovers, spoiling, dance parties, shopping whatever their hearts desire, Auntie would do.

You will never meet someone with as much style or beauty as Laura. From shopping at Nordstrom’s, Z Gallerie and The Rack, she could dress everyone in the family, decorate her home and do it in one trip. She would incorporate abstract pieces she fell in love with into modern designs and it never looked bad, she could do anything she wanted and it all looked lovely.

Laura was that sparkle that everyone needed and wanted in their life. She was magic in the way that she could do everything and anything she wanted and everyone still loved her regardless. No one could make you feel more at home than she could.

Our Laura Belle was one of a kind…. She will keep on glittering the heavens in anticipation for us all.