Just seeing her picture again, makes me smile. She actually paralleled me all the way through school and life. We attended all schools together: grade school (Harrison Hill), junior high (Belzer), high school (Lawrence Central) and college (Ball State University). Also our sisters were in the same grade (4 years younger in school). We both had our children late in life. We met in 2nd grade taking a tap dancing class together with a dance program at the end wearing roaring twenties handmade costumes made by our Moms. From the start I could tell she was a lot of fun and would continue that way through life. She was a very good friend to me all the way from the beginning until her painful death. She would light up a room with her fun, lively and vibrant personality. It was painful to lose such a dear friend so early in life. I asked her to go travel and live and work in Lake Tahoe with me right after college but she was too "in love" with Tim Fitzgerald (her soon-to-be husband) to leave for my 3 month adventure. She later told me she wished she had taken that window of time to have a big adventure before marriage. She was a beacon of light in my life and it was a joy and honor to have known her so well. She has been dearly missed but her memory still makes me smile.
LouAnn made me giggle...you know, that down-to-your-toes girlie giggle that makes all the world seem right. I miss you, sweetie, but I feel you everyday guiding me through this reunion planning. We'll toast one on your behalf, and enjoy each other ...because, great friend and reunion guru, that's what you would want us to do.
Jane Ann said it perfectly...LouAnn was a beacon of light. That smile lit up every room she walked into. I don't know if I've ever known anyone so positive, genuine, and kind....not a phony bone in her body. She was the real thing. Even in her last days, she was thinking of others. She asked me to bring some cards to the hospital so she could write thank you notes to those who sent her flowers. She knew she was dying, but it was SO important to her to send those notes. She didn't want those people wondering if she ever received them.
I'll never forget you, sweet friend. You always made me happy...you made everyone happy.
Lou Ann died on Christmas Day 1991. She left behind her husband Tim and her chilren Kyle and Kelly. Pat Loehrer spoke at her funeral. Her parents Lou and Lib Priest are still living in Avalon Hills She was fun up until the day she died. She and I shared so much but her best feature was that she loved everyone and no one was less important than the other. I was with her that last day and she gave me a ring and I have worn it every day since and I look forward to a great reunion in heaven with her.
As in Jane Ann Vigus comments, I too knew Lou Ann from the first grade and from growing up as kids a block apart. After "little league" ball games in Lawrence we were treated to ice cream at the DQ on Franklin Road where Lou Ann would always squirt a little extra chocolate on my sundae. After her family moved further north I would still see her at school, and of course in the band and honeybears.
After college, I dropped in on Lou Ann while teaching gym at Lawrence North. So we could chat a little, she made the girls run continuous laps until they were ready to drop! We laughed about her new found "power" in the teachers whistle!! I made a few visits to Tim and Lou Anns' house helping them get started on some outdoor projects, and got to catch up on years past.
She was so kind to me and I was so comfortable around her. Yeah.....I miss her,too!
TALK ABOUT MEMORIES !! HAVING MET LOUANN IN SEVENTH GRADE AND REMAINING CLOSE FRIENDS UNTIL GRADUATION WAS A PRIVILAGE. I WILL SHARE ONE OF MANY SPECIAL MOMENTS, WHICH IS ALSO HILARIOUS AND OF COURSE, DEFINED LOUANN. I WAS AT BALL STATE DRIVING TO MY FRATERNITY HOUSE AND WHO SHOULD I SEE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT LOUANN. SHE KIND OF SHEEPISHLY ASK ME FOR A RIDE, WHICH I THOUGHT ODD, BUT WAS CERTAINLY NO PROBLEM. AFTER I SAID OKAY, LOUANN TURNED AROUND AND YELLED "C'MON " ! OUT OF THE BUSHES APPEAR 4-5 OF HER FRIENDS AND SHE YELLED " CAN THEY RIDE TOO " ?? MAN, WHAT A TREAT !! YOU DON'T GET THAT KIND OF FREE SPIRIT EVERYDAY !! HERE'S TO YOU LOUANN. YOU LEFT A HANDPRINT ON OUR HEARTS !!
I remember Lou Ann always smiling, always cheerful & enthusiastic. She and I started first grade together in Mrs. Pardington's class at Harrison Hill. I still have our class picture.
I remember wanting to be just like her. She was never conceited, just a very sweet, talented, lovely girl.
Connie Morris (Buckley)
I miss your laugh and your smile and think about you every day.
Jane Ann Vigus (Steiner)
Just seeing her picture again, makes me smile. She actually paralleled me all the way through school and life. We attended all schools together: grade school (Harrison Hill), junior high (Belzer), high school (Lawrence Central) and college (Ball State University). Also our sisters were in the same grade (4 years younger in school). We both had our children late in life. We met in 2nd grade taking a tap dancing class together with a dance program at the end wearing roaring twenties handmade costumes made by our Moms. From the start I could tell she was a lot of fun and would continue that way through life. She was a very good friend to me all the way from the beginning until her painful death. She would light up a room with her fun, lively and vibrant personality. It was painful to lose such a dear friend so early in life. I asked her to go travel and live and work in Lake Tahoe with me right after college but she was too "in love" with Tim Fitzgerald (her soon-to-be husband) to leave for my 3 month adventure. She later told me she wished she had taken that window of time to have a big adventure before marriage. She was a beacon of light in my life and it was a joy and honor to have known her so well. She has been dearly missed but her memory still makes me smile.
Ann Wilson
LouAnn made me giggle...you know, that down-to-your-toes girlie giggle that makes all the world seem right. I miss you, sweetie, but I feel you everyday guiding me through this reunion planning. We'll toast one on your behalf, and enjoy each other ...because, great friend and reunion guru, that's what you would want us to do.
Sandra Hall (Blanton)
Jane Ann said it perfectly...LouAnn was a beacon of light. That smile lit up every room she walked into. I don't know if I've ever known anyone so positive, genuine, and kind....not a phony bone in her body. She was the real thing. Even in her last days, she was thinking of others. She asked me to bring some cards to the hospital so she could write thank you notes to those who sent her flowers. She knew she was dying, but it was SO important to her to send those notes. She didn't want those people wondering if she ever received them.
I'll never forget you, sweet friend. You always made me happy...you made everyone happy.
Joyce Hall (Whiting)
Lou Ann died on Christmas Day 1991. She left behind her husband Tim and her chilren Kyle and Kelly. Pat Loehrer spoke at her funeral. Her parents Lou and Lib Priest are still living in Avalon Hills She was fun up until the day she died. She and I shared so much but her best feature was that she loved everyone and no one was less important than the other. I was with her that last day and she gave me a ring and I have worn it every day since and I look forward to a great reunion in heaven with her.
Larry Barnett
As in Jane Ann Vigus comments, I too knew Lou Ann from the first grade and from growing up as kids a block apart. After "little league" ball games in Lawrence we were treated to ice cream at the DQ on Franklin Road where Lou Ann would always squirt a little extra chocolate on my sundae. After her family moved further north I would still see her at school, and of course in the band and honeybears.
After college, I dropped in on Lou Ann while teaching gym at Lawrence North. So we could chat a little, she made the girls run continuous laps until they were ready to drop! We laughed about her new found "power" in the teachers whistle!! I made a few visits to Tim and Lou Anns' house helping them get started on some outdoor projects, and got to catch up on years past.
She was so kind to me and I was so comfortable around her. Yeah.....I miss her,too!
Larry Seitz
TALK ABOUT MEMORIES !! HAVING MET LOUANN IN SEVENTH GRADE AND REMAINING CLOSE FRIENDS UNTIL GRADUATION WAS A PRIVILAGE. I WILL SHARE ONE OF MANY SPECIAL MOMENTS, WHICH IS ALSO HILARIOUS AND OF COURSE, DEFINED LOUANN. I WAS AT BALL STATE DRIVING TO MY FRATERNITY HOUSE AND WHO SHOULD I SEE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT LOUANN. SHE KIND OF SHEEPISHLY ASK ME FOR A RIDE, WHICH I THOUGHT ODD, BUT WAS CERTAINLY NO PROBLEM. AFTER I SAID OKAY, LOUANN TURNED AROUND AND YELLED "C'MON " ! OUT OF THE BUSHES APPEAR 4-5 OF HER FRIENDS AND SHE YELLED " CAN THEY RIDE TOO " ?? MAN, WHAT A TREAT !! YOU DON'T GET THAT KIND OF FREE SPIRIT EVERYDAY !! HERE'S TO YOU LOUANN. YOU LEFT A HANDPRINT ON OUR HEARTS !!
Sally Perry
I remember Lou Ann always smiling, always cheerful & enthusiastic. She and I started first grade together in Mrs. Pardington's class at Harrison Hill. I still have our class picture.
I remember wanting to be just like her. She was never conceited, just a very sweet, talented, lovely girl.
Terrie Payne (West)
Sorry to see such a bright light is gone.
Sally Perry
Terrie Payne West: You described LouAnn well....She was a very bright light and it was a joy to be around her.