Ann Laurence

Ann Doil Laurence, cast off her mooring lines and set sail for Valhalla on Mon, April 8th after losing her final battle with cancer. She was 69. All the hopes & prayers of her family & friends could not deter this determined Viking Warrior from continuing her journey of discovery. She was met by her God, her sister Kathy, her parents Doug & Lynn Doil, as well as numerous notables from Norway, Ireland & Scotland who had preceded her. Upon arrival, she was met with cheers and accolades for a life well lived. She arrived in Oklahoma at age 12 and attended Jr. High & High School in the Warr Acres area, graduating from Putnam City High School in 1962. That summer, she entered the OU School of Nursing where she met her life long friends. There were 14 in her class who lived, studied and grew up together. They graduated in 1965 and 48 years later are still close friends meeting for dinner every other month. They are all remarkable women who have lived their lives of service helping others. In 1974, she moved to Alaska where she continued to work as a nurse until as a single mother, sought a more lucrative profession. She was hired by Xerox Corporation as a sales person and over the next 30 years rose through the ranks to become Vice President of Sales & Operations in Alaska. During those years, her love of travel & adventure took her to more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. One of her most thrilling trips was to Rwanda, where she trekked up into the Virunga Mountains to sit amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas. Upon retirement after 30 years, she became active in Alaskan politics as a fund raiser and champion for conservative fiscal and liberal social causes. In 2010, she & her husband Charlie moved to Edmond to take advantage of Oklahoma's central location in the U.S. from which they made many road trips in their vintage cars. She leaves behind her proud husband Charlie, her son Corey, her sister Nancy and her brothers Corey and Jim as well as the many friends in the OUSN Class of '65, PCHS Class of '62, the Central Oklahoma Jaguar Club and numerous friends & business associates in Alaska. Her passing leaves a huge hole in all of their hearts. She did it her way. There will be a service & reception at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home on Sat., June 15th at 2:00pm.