Laura B Fogle

Laura Bertha Fogle was born in 1922 at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. She lived there with an Aunt until age 6, after which she went to live with her parents, Celestine and John Gallagher, in Detroit, MI.

Laura was a graduate of Detroit High School, where she had trained to be a court reporter. Unfortunately due to serious illness she was unable to complete the training.

One summer she worked as a nanny for a family in Chicago, Illinois. She was not happy with the children and vowed never to have children.

After high school Laura worked for a small chain of 7 stores selling ladies sportswear. She modeled the clothes as a sales person and helped the store achieve top ranking in sales. Her employer wanted to promote her as a "buyer", however, her Marine boyfriend coaxed her to San Diego in 1942.

Laura worked a as telephone order taker for a wholesale produce company for a short time. She was well liked and was offered a promotion but instead started with a drug store working in the sub-branch post office and payroll check cashing department. The store had a lunch counter, and it was here that she met her future husband, Jack Lowther, while taking her lunch break.

After her marriage in 194, they moved to Redondo Beach. Laura found employment as a sales person and won recognition several times for producing the most sales in her sales area.

In 1953, Laura began work at Northrop Grumman as a secretary. During the next 23 years her supervisors recognized her superior abilities in every job she was assigned. She was the first woman to win promotion of "Contract Administrator" for the company. In 1976 she retired due to her husband's failing health.

Laura and her Jack, moved to Redding, where they acquired some rental properties as investments. For 4 years Laura worked as a councilor with Shasta Senior Services working with seniors. It was the lowest paying job that she ever held, but the most satisfying to her, as she enjoyed helping the many local seniors with whom she came in contact.

Laura nursed her husband, until his demise in December 1988. After his death, she got away by touring Australia and New Zealand. Upon returning home she heard a radio announcement about square dancing. She took to square dancing "like a duck to water" and met her second husband, Richard McGrath at a square dance club. They were married in 1990, in a friend's home in Roseburg, Oregon.

In 1994, Laura and Richard built a customized home on Nike Court in Redding. They acquired a 26 ft. class "C" motor home in which they toured the United States and Canadian Provinces. They square danced every where they went and reached a high level of proficiency.

In April 2002, Richard became ill and spent several months in a skilled nursing home near Folsom, CA. Friends, Dorthy and Roy Easley assisted Laura in her vigil, while she was in Folsom, and enticed her to attend FUMC Redding after Richard died in Sept. 2002.

Laura joined the "Singles Talking To Singles" group at FUMC and became the hostess for arranging dinners. A member of the singles group, Joyce Way introduced Laura to her future husband, George Fogle of Santa Rosa in August 2005. After a whirlwind courtship they were married by pastor M. Murdock at FUMC on Feb. 12, 2006. Her close niece, Linda Muir Nelson was her maid of honor. Laura and George enjoyed the next 4 years together until Laura became ill in August 2010, due to age related illness and died Dec. 2010, on the same day that she lost her first husband. Linda assisted in caring for Laura in final days under hospice care.

Laura was predeceased by her 2 siblings, Grace Gallagher Muir and Charles Gallagher. She is survived by her spouse and numerous nieces and nephews. Laura had no offspring.

Laura was a very vibrant person with a witty sense of humor. She became the "Life of the Party" where ever she happened to be. She excelled in everything she under took.

Her favorite comment to, "How are you doing" was: "If I was doing any better I would have to be twins to handle it."

She will be sorely missed by all who knew her!

No flowers please; Memorials donations are welcome to the endowment commission at FUMC or to the charity of your choice.