Laura Diane Petrash

Laura Diane Petrash passed away on January 17, 2022, in Oklahoma City. A Memorial Service was conducted at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City, at 11 AM, on January 20, 2022. A video of Laura's service may be viewed on Facebook (search Celebrating Laura Petrash) and on the Smith & Kernke Funeral Home website: www.smithandkernke.com (search Laura Petrash). Laura was born March 30, 1971, in Bryan, Texas to proud parents, Paula Ann Petrash and Lawrence "Larry" Dean Petrash; both were students at Texas A&M University. The first years of her life, Laura traveled to such places as Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and then Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, initial assignments where her father began his career service in the U.S. Army. She started Elementary School in Plano, Texas, later moving to San Antonio, and then to Wichita Falls, Texas where she attended Ben Milam Elementary, Barwise Junior High School, S.H. Rider High School and then on to Midwestern State University where she majored in Biological Sciences, graduating with honors. She was inducted into the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, and was the Outstanding Senior Woman in 1993. Laura was blessed with a very productive work ethic and excelled in academics. She had a strong commitment to lifelong learning, diligence, integrity, attention to detail, self-discipline, and working well with people. Laura made a difference in the lives of so many. She loved people and people loved her. She had many friends everywhere she went. She will be dearly remembered by her family, friends, medical community, and many others whose lives she touched. Once she decided on a goal Laura went after it. She decided to practice medicine as a Certified Physician Assistant. Strong in academics, she won a competitive, national full scholarship, the National Health Service Corps Scholarship, to Gannon University in Erie, PA, from the US Department of Health and Human Services. She pursued a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies, made the Dean's List, Omicron Delta Kappa, graduating Cum Laude. This was an Intensive program including 228 semester hours; 5 medical rotations in pediatrics, general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, mental health, and internal medicine; 4 medical preceptors in family practice, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and family practice. Always striving to help others, and, while pursuing a demanding curriculum, she found time to successfully tutor other students in core curriculum courses, like chemistry and advanced algebra and calculus. These students became her life-long friends. Once Laura graduated from Gannon University in 1999, she worked as a medical provider for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Phoenix, Arizona and in El Reno, Oklahoma. The next 23 years included working for various physicians in private practice, specializing in Pulmonary Medicine, Family Practice and Pain Management. She was a loved and respected healthcare teacher and medical provider. She was committed to Christ and her church, was a Children's Sunday School Teacher, and an active leader in the Girl Scouts of America, all the while, taking great care of her adopted daughter. While Laura graduated from two universities she loved, she was born into an Aggie family and that's where her heart was. Along with many family members, she was a Texas A&M Aggie through and through!! Laura is survived by her beloved adopted daughter, Rosalee Petrash; her Aggie parents, Paula and Larry Petrash of Wichita Falls, Texas; her brother, Jason Petrash and his wife Tina of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and their sons, Justin (wife Ciara and great-nephew Emet), Jeremy, Joshua, and their daughter, Jessica; also youngest brother, Dustin Petrash and his wife, Ashley of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Montana and their son Eric and their daughters, Evelyn and Emily. She is also survived by Paternal Aunts and Uncles include, Gerald Petrash of Alvin, Texas; Cousin Christopher Petrash; and Kenneth Petrash and his wife, Anna of Pasadena, Texas; Cousin Kimberly Williams. Her Maternal Aunts and Uncles include, Kenneth Benson and wife, Cecilia of Houston, Texas; Danny Benson and his wife, Lyn of Tyler, Texas, and Cousins Brent and Chad Benson; Robert Benson and his wife, Mollie of Longview, Texas. and Cousins Tammy and Casey. Laura was preceded in death by her Paternal Grandparents, Mary and Edward Petrash of San Antonio and Uncle Ernest Petrash of Columbus, Mississippi. Also preceding her in death, her maternal grandparents, Marvin and Bertha Benson of Tyler, Texas.Donations may be sent in Laura's name to Crossings Community Church, 14600 Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City 73134 or to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 2125, Wichita Falls, Texas 76307.