Laura Alice Krouse - Online Memorial Website

This memorial website was created to remember our dearest Laura Alice Krouse who was born in  San Antonio, Texas on August 30, 1931 and passed away on July 13, 2007 in a hospital in Houston, Texas. You will live forever in our memories and hearts

Laura A. Krouse
LAURA A. KROUSE, 75, of Houston, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2007. She is survived by her children, John McCarthy, Jerry Johnston, Jim Johnston, Hank Johnston, Cathey Litts, and Marilyn Fitzgerald; as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Gordon Johnston. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy, with Pastor Kendall Torcios officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Citizens for Animal Protection Pet Adoption Center, 11925 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079. Schmidt Funeral Home 1508 East Ave., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 391-2424 Published in the Houston Chronicle on 7/16/2007.

Laura Alice Krouse (AKA Mama, Granny, Grandma, MeeMaw, & Laura Alice) can best be described in terms brought to my attention years ago by my college boyfriend who, often in my company when I would go visit her, got to see and hear my Grandma Laura in action. So poignantly put and ever so true, he said that she could be a character straight out of a novel!  I could not argue the fact that she was as animated as any best selling novel's leading heroin would be likely portrayed. A good author's description, in a comparative light, would only invoke fond memories of amusement, laughter, and entertainment, regardless of whatever the surrounding circumstances might have been at the moment. Not only was she animated and cantankerously funny, her character was as colorful as a rainbow. When someone engaged her in activities and pressed for her thoughts on topics at hand, her stories would flow forth like a frothy fountain. What would be gained in information and painted in mind's eye,  was often more valuable than any pot of gold found at the end of a rainbow. Now that we have reached the end of her rainbow, I am at the very least, comforted with a gift of time well spent in my grandmother's colorful life. Proximity may have helped me but blessings where bestowed on me, none-the-less! I am honored to  have had the time with her and I hope the memories will be enough to sustain me the rest of my life while I make my own trek through this world.

She remained hard working through out her entire life, despite ailments and earthly termoil; a smart cookie she had been as well.  I only dare dream of a novel in which I can be described with words befitting such a woman as she! My feeble attempt to show honor for my cherished, departed, and now sorely missed grandmother are truly my best efforts at expressing my overwhelming admiration and awe felt for such a tremendous life force, now extinguished. In the shadows of such a consistantly strong and diligent person, it is hard to imagine that I could ever be portrayed by such words of character at the end of my own life's novel. This would be due to what I will never have to  live through. 

I will never  have to endure the hardships of her days, nor will I have to experience an era of poverty, one  which she had practically been left to her own devices ( even though she was married) to raise  seven children by herself! At the tender age of 23, she found herself a mother to 7 children and ultimately begain her journey to which in the end, became her most accomplished body of work in a long lifetime of hard  work.

 My father, along with his six brothers and sisters often brought my grandma to laughter as well as to tears. I suppose it is fitting for a first born grand child (me) often bare witness to the most colorful adjectives & language imaginable when she interacted with her brood. I thrived in her aura of passion and I felt a deep conection with her outside of sheer kinship. Often times such passion felt people who aren't afraid to express the way they feel, get unjustly labeled. I think her nothing less than most  worthy of respect. I loved listening to her  talk about her family, specifically her kids. All the exquisite morsels & accompanying stories to which any potential political candidate could be brought down to their knees! ;) None the less, there isn't a doubt in my mind to just how deep or how wide the river of love my grandmother had for every single one of her children, her grand children & great grand children, even within the thralls of drama or conflict. Through the course of troubled times or fueds between family members & regardless of which side of the fence she had stood, her love  never stopped despite how it might sound when, spoken only in pain felt heartache, her words  may have otherwise suggested. Anyone who spent time in her world, instinctively saw past the shield of feebly felt animosity used to mask her pain. The obvious truth to anyone who bothered to look under the surface, showed a woman who would do ANYTHING to help the one's she loved. She would be there for anyone of us in a heartbeat if anyone needed her for anything at all. I can honestly say, she was one of the  most reliable people I have ever known in my life. I mean that. She was consistantly reliable and true to form, both of which remain a cherished set of rare qualities in my book! 

I will always remember my grandmother as  a generous spirit with both  time and love. Where she lacked in monetary measures, her richness in personality and spirit certainly made up for it by anyone's standards! She never forgot to hug and kiss us and I can not recall a single time that she came empty handed to see me. She loved to spoil her grand children with trinkets and treats! Laura Alice Krouse had to be the absolute coolest woman anyone could hope for in a grandmother!

 Quick with an opinion in face of certain rejection by sassy kids who knew different, she stayed faithful in her love. She could hold her own in midst of clashing judgements and ideas. In the end, she still could  laugh and offer up a kiss and hug despite the clashing of opinions. It was miraculously beautiful and comforting to be able to be myself in her company,  regardless of past or present controversy, and no matter what. A simple truth  to what made grandma the happiest was  not unreasonably hard to deliver. All it took was a little time shared with her, whether it came in the form of a phone call, a card, or a face to face encounter. She was an easy person to be around, more so than most people I know. I am grateful to her and only do I now fully comprehend just how much she meant to me and just on how many levels that gratitude extends.

 I wish to express just how grateful I am  for the only real true blue family reunion we have come to know, back in April of 2005. I am so very, very, very grateful and forever thankful to everyone for putting aside egos and perceived wrongs and making the time to come together as a family to honor the mother of this wonderfully interesting (NEVER A DULL MOMENT) family of many beautiful grandkids, great grand kids, and the new generation grandparents! I know that her heart was mended, where before it was broken, and she was made whole inside (not to exclude Gordon Wayne whose cherished spot in her heart was mended only by loving memories of past & in anticipation of a future reunion in heaven).

 I am forever in debt to a memory that embodies the raw essence of what this life is about. While loving came unconditionally, she wasn't afraid to speak her mind regardless of what others thought! She was a giant with a gentle heart. She would be there for you in a heartbeat and always came baring gifts of some sort! She had little in measures of monetary value but she was rich in personality and heart. She could make you crazy, she could make you laugh, and now she makes us cry for now she is no longer here with us. She has left this world to be with a greater power and most rightly so. I say goodbye to my grandma. I love you always and I remember you as the coolest and most entertainingly fun grandmother that ever blessed my world. Thank you for all you have done for me and the people I love. Thank you for the times we shared and the abundance of stories and memories that will forever remain in my heart and on my lips as I attempt to relay to the world the essense of my now departed, yet never forgotten, grandmother. I love you and wish you an eternal rest without the earthly pain or sorrow once endured. You are loved forever. God be with you. Amen.

No one may check this anymore but I tried to reach out to Cathey last week and I want to make one other attempt to contact. Besides Just looking at the younger pictures of Laura remind me of what a spitfire she was. She was beautiful and powerful and sexy. Those kids were wild and talented and loved their mom. She worked so hard and I feared and admired her.
I know Gordy is gone but I hope no others. My health is failing but I want all you guys to know I loved you everyone (Didn't know the 1st one) One of the craziest most vibrant families I've known. If  you see this give my deepest love to my little Cat.
1 /30/12
mikemac7@aol.com