Dr. Laura Moats McLemore

Dr. Laura Moats McLemore, 62, of Maize, KS, passed away at home on July 21, 2023.She was born May 13, 1961 to Fred and Glenda Moats in Wichita, KS. As a child, she attended Murdoch Elementary and Robinson Middle School. She was baptized at First Bible Baptist and attended Immanuel Baptist Church, Central Christian Church, and Believers Southern Baptist Church. Laura met her sweetheart Ken while attending Southeast High School (’79). They married on January 2, 1982 and had two daughters, Meghan and Erin. Laura attended Friends University (’83) and majored in Education. She taught thousands of elementary students throughout her career, teaching in Wichita 259, and serving as principal in Wichita and Hutchinson 308. Laura earned her Masters of Arts in Education from Friends (’89) and spent ten years as an educator in the Teacher Education department at Newman University before returning to the elementary classroom. Laura earned her Ph.D from Kansas State University (’95). “Dr Laura” was fond of her students over the years and looked forward to seeing them grow and learn. Laura retired from teaching in 2021 after 37 years in education.Laura was a passionate musician, playing both piano and cello. She often played hymns while her father preached or accompanied her daughters in recitals. Laura enjoyed playing in the Friends Community Orchestra in her later years and at her church. She loved to travel and was always planning the next vacation, road trip, or weekend getaway. Laura was a fan of the KC Royals and traveled all over the country to catch a game. Laura had a lifelong interest in the works of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. She dedicated a significant amount of time to the research and scholarship of Wilder’s works. Laura served as President and Board Member of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association. She helped organize and produce their Laurapalooza conference which brought together children’s literary scholars, authors, researchers, and celebrities. Laura died peacefully at home with her family at her side. She is predeceased by her grandparents, Lucille (Darling) and Oliver Thurow, Pauline (VanZandt) and Elmer Moats; her father, Fred Moats; her parents-in-law, Roy and Virginia (Trenkle) McLemore; her uncle John Yasbec; her brother-in-law, Rex (Audrey) McLemore. She is survived by her mother Glenda (Thurow) Moats; beloved husband Ken McLemore; her daughters Meghan (Jeremiah) Griffith, Erin (Kyle Hobbie) McLemore; her sister Kelly (Debbie Winn) Hanshew; her grandsons John Griffith, Andrew Griffith; her aunt Cheryl (Thurow) Yasbec, her nephew Ben Hanshew; brothers-in-law Don (Jaime) McLemore, Van (Felicia) McLemore; and many loving cousins, friends, and students. Visitation will be Sunday, July 30 from 2pm-4pm at Downing & Lahey West, 10515 W Maple, Wichita. Services will be held on Monday, July 31st at 10 am at Believer’s Southern Baptist Church, 13909 W 21st St North, Wichita. Internment will be at Maize Park Cemetery immediately following the service. Pastor Tim Ohls will be officiating. Donations in Laura’s memory can be made to the Mid-America ALS society www.als.org/mid-america or Southern Baptist Missions via Believers, www.go2believers.com.