Laura "Deanie" Kurek

Laura was born on June 1, 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Claycomo, Missouri to Noah J. and Opal H. Dykes. She was a Class of 1954 graduate of North Kansas City High School. In 1956, she married her elementary school sweetheart, Richard Kurek, and together they settled in the Claycomo area to raise their family.

Laura started working for Waddell & Reed where she was offered a full-time position, retiring after 25 years. However, her greatest love was being a mother and eventually a grandmother.

Laura and Richard enjoyed traveling with their travel trailer all over the United States, taking cruises, and loved spending time at their second home in Lake of the Ozarks.

Laura was an avid sports enthusiast and loved supporting her many teams especially the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. She was an excellent baker and a professional when it came to making sugar cookies. Laura took a lot of pride in decorating for the holidays, theming her rooms at the lake, and just building various collections for décor.

Preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Kimberly Manoogian; and her brother, Donald Dykes.

Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Richard; her daughter, Cynthia (Mike) Shepherd; her sister, Diane Patterson; her grandchildren, Rachel Shepherd; Trevor (Meredith) Shepherd; and Bryce Shepherd & Stephanie (Mark) Lauzon, Nicholas Manoogian, and Brett Manoogian; a great grandchild on the way; and a host of niece and nephews all of which will miss her dearly.

The Family asks that your wear your favorite team colors or sports related clothes to the visitation and service.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Claycomo Baptist Church Memorial Fund; 312 E. Longfellow St Kansas City, Missouri 64119 (https://www.claybapt.org/)