Laurie Loomis Malcomson

Laurie was born on January 12, 1932 in Seattle. Her parents were Ralph and Edith Loomis. She grew up in the Ballard part of the city, graduating from Ballard High School. Bill Malcomson met Laurie at the American Baptist Assembly in Green Lake, WI and fell in love with her while they were both students at Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, NY. Laurie and Bill were married at Seattle First Baptist Church on June 11, 1955. After Bill's graduation from seminary, they moved to Princeton, NJ, where Christi was born.

Laurie served as the private secretary to the senior minister at First Presbyterian Church. They moved to Claremont, CA, where Bill taught at Pomona College. Scott was born during that time. When they moved to Storrs, CT, Laurie enjoyed writing the town column for the Hartford Courant--a great opportunity to learn about all of the "dirt" in that part of the state. Then they moved to Kansas City, KS. Laurie earned her Masters in Social Work from the University of Kansas Medical Center. When they moved to Oakland, CA, she began her work as an activities director at senior centers. John was born in Oakland. Laurie loved running senior centers.

They also began hosting overseas tours and no one enjoyed travel more than Laurie. They moved to her home town of Seattle in 1987, where she enjoyed volunteering at Wing Luke Asian Museum, the ACLU, and the surgery waiting room at Virginia Mason Hospital. She also shared her wonderful alto voice to the Seattle First Baptist choir. During their Seattle years they became grandparents to Christi's Grace, Will, and Sarah, and to Scott and Becky's Ben and Hannah. And they became "Ma and Pa" to John's wonderful wife Heidi. Laurie served at a senior center again when they spent 18 months in Greenwich Village in New York City. In 2004 they moved to the Skagit Valley and settled in to a 1904 house with Christi and the grandkids. Laurie volunteered at the La Conner Chamber of Commerce and at the Skagit Valley Historical Museum. As was her custom over the years, she walked 2-3 miles a day. But she could also be found at a local market each day, reading a book, drinking coffee, and enjoying "death by chocolate" ice cream.

Laurie was an insulin-dependent diabetic for 49 years. She weathered two life-threatening head injuries, a back fracture and a pelvic fracture. She was a survivor. She never complained. Her grandson Will called her a "superhero." She impressed everyone with her strength and endurance. She is survived by Bill, Christi, Grace, Will, Sarah, Scott, Becky, Ben, Hannah, John, Heidi, and her lifelong friend Barbara.