Laura L. (Davis) Bauer, 80, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on October 6, 2024. She was born to Rollie and Opal (Richardson) Davis. She married the love of her life, Kenneth (Ken) R. Bauer, who survives in Centralia.
In addition to her husband of almost 40 years, Laura was blessed with three daughters and their families: Gina Shafer-Schenk and her son, Adam Shafer; Penny Russell and sons Sonny Russell and Dylan (Cassie) Russell and their children Lucas, Mason, and Olive; Tracy Quandt and her children Laney Quandt, Clayton Jackson, Jessica (Ben) Teriet and their children Eli, Maddox, Conner, Benjamin, Cayson, and Bella. Three stepchildren: Jeff (Renae) Bauer, their children Paige Bauer, Ashton Bauer, Taylor Pope and her children Rory and Elliott, Julie (Barry) Bierman and daughter Kim (Andy) Burton and their children Ava and Liam; Greg (Kathy) Bauer and children Ian Bauer and Kayla (Jeremy) Frerich. She is also survived by one sister, Martha Ann Poston, and a niece.
Laura Lou was raised on a farm in Dix where she learned an appreciation for the simple life. She was a farm girl at heart, learning to plant and harvest crops with a team of horses, hand-pick corn, and hand-milking cows. Later, with the advancement of technology, she learned to drive a tractor. She continued her love of gardening and canning home-grown vegetables for many years. A few of Laura’s favorite animals growing up included her pet lamb (Nibbles), pet pig (Leaky), and pet raccoon (Betty). She bottle-fed various abandoned and sick baby animals back to health. She cared for a baby squirrel, Baby Bro, who fell out of the nest, until he was old enough to be returned to the wild. Her children fondly remember her saying “Be careful hugging me, Baby Bro is in my pocket staying warm”. One of her favorite sayings that she always tried to live by, was “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody!” (by Brad Montague)
Laura attended the Dix 2-room school, Rome Grade School, Mt. Vernon High School, and attended classes at Kaskaskia College. She worked at Economy Insurance until her retirement.
Laura and Ken traveled as full-time RVer’s extensively all over the US for 10 years, eventually settling in Florida, first in Ruskin, and then Sun City Center, before moving back to Centralia. For her 80th birthday, Ken took her to her favorite little town of Jerome, AZ where she and her dear friend, Doris Theriault, once again celebrated their birthdays together.
Laura was past president of Friends of the Library of Centralia, held an extra class license for amateur radio operator (W9EET), a member of the Centralia Wireless Association, a member of the American Radio Relay League, and was a volunteer license examiner.
Laura was an associate member of First Baptist Church of Ruskin, FL and a member of First Baptist Church of Centralia. She played both the piano and organ for church services and was an active choir member in Florida.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents and two sons-in-law, Richard Schenk, MD, and Richard Quandt.
Visitation will be at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Funeral will be at First Baptist Church of Centralia at 1:00 PM on Friday, October 11, 2024, with burial to follow, at Jordan Chapel Cemetery, alongside her family. Memorial gifts may be given to First Baptist Church of Centralia or to Paralyzed Veterans of America, and will be accepted at the service, or by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page.