Laurie Ann Cura

Laurie Ann Cura, 66, passed away on January 26, 2024.

Laurie was born on September 3, 1957, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. She was the second child of Richard and Betty Wheeler. Laurie’s mother passed away when Laurie was five. Her father, a principal, had to raise his daughter alone for a while until he remarried.

Laurie liked to skip school at her leisure; hanging out with friends was more important than school. She attended Michigan State to study history. Laurie also hopped on a 350cc motorcycle with a friend and drove from Michigan to Seattle, just because she wanted to! Her brother came and returned her home.

Laurie joined the United States Navy in 1979 as a young woman. She served four years as a chef, enjoying cooking for the naval officers. Upon getting out of the service, she started cooking for a food company in San Diego.

In 1990, Laurie met Teresa Snyder at Rosie’s Bar in California. They hit it off immediately. Teresa was still in the Navy. Upon Teresa’s retirement, they moved numerous times from Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. When in Utah, they took care of Terri’s mom, Marva. Laurie, a great daughter-in-law, always kept Marva and Teresa’s large family fed. Laurie made the best ribs, along with many other specialties.

Laurie had a battle with alcohol. She finally overcame her addiction on January 3, 2018. Alcoholics Anonymous made Laurie a whole person. Laurie served faithfully in the position of secretary at the Friendship Club here in Pocatello. She scheduled volunteers to take 12-step meetings to local rehabilitation facilities, chaired AA meetings, and she was instrumental in keeping the Women in Recovery meetings going for many years. In addition to helping many of her cohorts grow spiritually, she provided delicious pastries, cakes, and cookies at all of her meetings.

Laurie contemplated joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She even quit smoking so she could join. This will happen in the near future.

Sadly, after a five-month hospital stay battling pneumonia and COPD, Laurie passed peacefully on Friday, January 26, 2024. Her most appreciated trait is her free love for people and her six years of sobriety.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck, ID 83202 with a viewing for one hour prior, beginning at 1:00 pm.

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