Laura Edith Gorum Jakeway

Laura was born October 19, 1945 in Leesville, Louisiana to Richard Pleasant Gorum and Nancy Lucille (Moore) Gorum. She spent her childhood in Louisiana and later moved with her family to Las Cruces, New Mexico where she graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1963. She relocated to Texas in 1978 and spent the last 27 years in Dickinson, Texas. She leaves behind a loving family: husband, Bill; three children, son, Shane; daughter, Brandy, spouse Michael and children Courtney and Sage; and son, Ryan, spouse Ashley and children Journey and Cannan; two sisters, Sandra (Gorum) Bergara and Annah (Brodnax) Farina; brother, Gary “Sonny” Brodnax; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Laura was employed at several companies through the years and enjoyed building memories with her co-workers at Legg's, Mainland Bank, Bacliff Bank, and retired from aerospace contractor’s Lockheed Martin and Jacob's Engineering after 20 years of service. In the aerospace industry, she was the assistant to several directors and supporting organizations and was known as the go to person for event planning and fundraiser activities.

Family was the most important part of her life. She was very involved in her children and grandchildren’s lives and loved spending time with all of them. She was also the event planner at home and hosted most of the family and holiday gatherings.

She was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer five years ago and went into remission twice. She fought bravely with the support of God, family and friends throughout those years. She went to be with the Lord on June 30, 2013 with her family at her side.

She is preceded in death by her parents Richard & Lucille Gorum; her twin brother Richard Pleasant Gorum, Jr.; her younger brother, Kay Reginald Gorum; and her sister Mattie (Brodnax) Longley.

A memorial service will take place at Forest Park East Funeral Home in Webster, Texas on Friday July 5, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. The services will be led by Reverend Jim Jackson of the First United Methodist Church in Dickinson, Texas. Her ashes will be placed at the family gravesite where her parents and twin brother were laid to rest in Louisiana. The graveside services will be held on October 19, 2013 at Comrade Cemetery in Leesville, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests in kind donations to the American Cancer Society. Address: P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, or website: www.cancer.org/donate