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The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

Elaine Laursen

Elaine Laursen, 90, of Vernal, Utah, formerly of Warrensburg, died Saturday, May 17, at her residence in Vernal.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg with the Rev. Hubert Neth officiating. There will be a private interment in Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery at a later date.
She was born May 11, 1924, in Johnson City, New York, to J. Earl and Laura McFarlane. In 1930, the family moved to Cincinnatus, New York, and Elaine entered first grade. She graduated from Cincinnatus Central School in 1942 with honors. She then attended the prestigious New York Conservancy of Music.
Elaine and Harold Laursen were married in Minnesota in 1946 and moved to Kansas City area in Missouri. In 1961, the family moved to Warrensburg. After the death of Harold, Elaine attended and graduated with honors from Central Missouri State College in 1966 with a degree in elementary education. She became employed by Warrensburg School District where she instructed in the music department for 27 years, retiring in 1993. Throughout her life Elaine taught piano lessons to hundreds of students after school and in the evenings for over 50 years.
After retiring, Elaine stayed active by continuing to play the organ for various churches in the community, playing at weddings and funerals. She was always available to play the organ or piano as she loved music. She moved to Utah in 2011 and enjoyed playing the piano at the assisted living center there. She passed away at her son’’s residence surrounded by his family at her side.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; brother, Robert McFarlane; sister, Dolores Oliver. She is survived by sisters Joyce (James) Buckley of Vancouver, Washington; and Carol (Don) Franz of Deltona, Florida; her children,– Thomas (Mary) Laursen of Alabama; Barbara Todd of Warrensburg; John (Kelly) Laursen of Utah; William Laursen of Kansas City, Missouri; and Hans Michael Laursen of Portland, Oregon; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Elaine Laursen