Laura Stanford

Laura Stanford, 56, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on December 10, 2022, in Beaumont, Texas.

Funeral services will be 10:00am, Friday, December 16, 2022, at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas. Officiating will be Paster Charles Jordan of Woodcrest Methodist Church in Lumberton, Texas. Graveside service will follow at Holly Grove Cemetery in Livingston, Texas at 2:00pm for those who wish to attend.

Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Thursday, at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas.

Born in New Orleans, LA, on March 7, 1966, she was the daughter of Mack L. Smith and Grace Joanne Smith. Laura was a wonderful person with a great sense of humor. She loved to read, always having a book in her hand. Laura also enjoyed plants and gardening even though she didn’t quite have a green thumb. Other interests were anything historical, genealogy, and dinosaurs. Laura was a long-time member of Woodcrest Methodist Church. Laura showed love and kindness wherever she could and was the sweetest, kindest person you could have ever known. She was truly loved and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mack L. Smith and Grace Joanne Smith; father-in-law, Jerry Higgins; niece, Meagan Ingle; and mother-in-law, Linda Higgins

She is survived by her husband of almost 31 years, Ernie Stanford; her sons, Ethan Stanford and wife Hang Chau, of China, Texas; and Colin Stanford of Beaumont, Texas; grandchildren, Codin Stanford, Henry Stanford, and grand dog Jewel; her brothers, Mark Smith and wife Jennifer, and Mike Smith and wife Carol; mother-in-law, Arie-Etta Higgins; and her sisters-in-law, Malene Ingle and husband Melvin, Dawn Mitchell and husband Robert, and Jackie Thies and husband Doug.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ethan Stanford, Colin Stanford, Mike Smith, Mark Smith, Robert Mitchell, and Brandon Cattell. Honorary pallbearers are Melvin Ingle.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to American Cancer Society or Woodcrest Methodist Church in Lumberton.