Laurie Mae Knapp passed away peacefully after short battle with brain cancer on June 15th at 2am at Villages of Jackson Creek Memory unit. There will be an informal gathering to celebrate Laurie on Sunday July 14th from 2-5pm at the Odessa Community Building, located at 601 West Main, Odessa Missouri. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Glioblastoma Foundation, PO box 62066, Durham, North Carolina 27715. In Laurie’s name.
Laurie was born on October 15, 1951 to Florence and Henry Knapp in Binghamton, New York.
After graduating high school (Chenango Valley) in 1969, Laurie graduated from Jennie Lund School of Practical Nursing in 1970. Laurie worked for short time at Truman Medical Center, as an OB nurse, before attending Penn Valley where she graduated with her Associate Degree in Nursing. After working at Truman for 27yrs, Laurie left and moved back to Binghamton. While in NY she attended Pete Kump School of Culinary Arts in New York City on weekends, working float pool in Binghamton during the week. After chef school Laurie moved to Indianapolis for a short time before moving back to Missouri, purchasing her nephew Chris John’s home after he passed away. She then secured a job at Medical Center of Independence in the OB dept working all aspects of the OB dept. After MCI closed and merged with Centrepoint she spent last 10yrs working primarily in the nursery. Laurie became an avid quilter over past years. Gnomes and other crafty items were made as well. Most of her 30+ quilts were given to friends and family as gifts. She was a member of the Twilight Stitchers quilt guild.
Laurie was proceeded in death by her parents, nephew Chris John’s and brother-in-law, Mike Aswad.
She is survived by brother David (wife Debbie) of Binghamton, sister Lisa Hotchkin (husband Gary) of Odessa, and sister Sharon Aswad of Binghamton. She leaves behind 2 nieces Darcy Johnson of Wheatland Wyoming, Haley Johns of Lee’s Summit, and 4 nephews Mike Simmons (Blue Springs), Dan Torsch (Kansas City), Ethan Simmons (Raymore) and Caleb Hotchkin (Odessa) that Laurie was exceptionally close to.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441