Laura Beth Rapier

Born Oct. 4, 1965 in Knoxville, she was the daughter of the late Jimmie Madden Sanders and James Ray Sanders and stepdaughter of Margaret McCarty Sanders. She was a graduate of Oak Ridge High School and attended Vanderbilt University, majoring in criminal law. For a short time following school, she worked for bail bonding offices in Knox County.

In earlier years, she also worked several management jobs in area hotels and convenience stores.

An outgoing person, she loved the outdoors, especially being on the lake with her husband, Mike, who survives her. Many weekends were spent on their boat on Norris Lake and they often traveled to beaches in Florida and South Carolina as well as trips to Jamaica. She and Mike were avid fans of Nascar and University of Tennessee football and made trips to Bristol and Daytona.

She was an avid gardener and proud of her vegetable garden and house plants. She was artistic and decorated her own flower pots for her plants. Neighbors often commented she had a green thumb and the best garden in the neighborhood. Cooking was a passion and she continued many of her mother’s recipes. Like her father, she loved Christmas and couldn’t wait to get out the decorations; each room had to be decorated.

She loved her pets, her dogs Tosha and Dakota, and her cat, Lenny, the lover, that loved no one but her.

At the age of 38, she had just delivered food for Meals on Wheels when she suffered a stroke shortly after coming home. Though partially paralyzed, she continued with therapy and remained as active as she was able.

In addition to her husband of 25 years, Laura is survived by a son, Jason; two sisters, Laquata Fredricks and her husband, Therrell; and Cathy Ziegaus; her nieces, Weonah Haire and Erin Mayes; two nephews, Mark Fredricks and Cody Fredricks; grandnephews, Camden and Kayson; and grandnieces, Brittany, Heather, Amber and Mia; her son’s fiancé, Sara; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Besides her parents and stepmother, a brother, William Ray Sanders, and a sister, Watanna Gail Sanders, died earlier.

The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 in the Chapel of Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home in Knoxville. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. with Rev. Mike Jacoby officiating, with a graveside service to follow at 3 p.m. at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests live plants that family members may take to have as a remembrance of Laura.

Family and friends are invited to share their condolences online at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com.