Laraine Laraine

LARAINE WILKINS IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Laraine Wilkins, 41, of Salt Lake City, former Idaho Falls resident, died September 2, 2006, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident near McCammon, Idaho. She was born February 22, 1965, in Provo, Utah, to Steven Curtis Wilkins and LaVern Braithwaite Wilkins. She attended schools in Provo and Idaho Falls, graduated from Skyline High School in Idaho Falls in 1983, earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in German from Brigham Young University, and did additional graduate work at Harvard University. She married George Schoemaker in August, 1986, in the Idaho Falls LDS temple. They were later divorced. She worked on university library staffs, taught German language on both the high school and university levels, was a technical writer and software support technician, and served as editor of Irreantum magazine and as Director of Development and Community Affairs for the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in Salt Lake City. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she served frequently as an organist, as well as in the Relief Society and Young Women organizations. Laraine was a skilled pianist and writer and a person of widely varied talents and interests. She loved writing poetry, drawing, cross stitching, running, camping and hiking, especially in Arches National Park and Monument Valley, classical music and the Arts, including concerts, art galleries, and museums. She is survived by: Daughter: Lena Schoemaker of Salt Lake City, UT Parents: Curt and LaVern Wilkins of Idaho Falls, ID Brother: Kip Wilkins of Pocatello, ID Brother: Travis (Bernice) Wilkins of Idaho Falls, ID Brother: Dana (Amber) Wilkins of Colorado Springs, CO Sister: Wendy (Bruce) King of Hyrum, UT Sister: Katrina Wilkins, attending school in Denton, TX Grandfather: Elwood Wilkins of Idaho Falls, ID Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 8, 2006, at the Idaho Falls LDS Templeview Ward, 1450 Mountain View Lane, Idaho Falls, with Bishop Aaron Christensen officiating. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue, and for one hour before services Friday at the Church. Memorial Services will also be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 9, 2006, at the Salt Lake City LDS Eleventh Ward, 951 East 100 South, Salt Lake City. Burial will be in the Grant-Central Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. ----------------------------------------------- Condolences sent online: Dottie LaPierre lapierrefam@verizon.net I am so saddened. Our hearts and prayers are given in yours and Lena's behalf. I miss Laraine and will miss our chats. dul Tom Plummer tgplummer@gmail.com I was the adviser for Laraine's MA thesis at BYU. In working with her and in later becoming a friend, I spent many hours in conversation and in exchanging emails with her. I came to appreciate her deep love and concrn for her daughter, her keen and far-reaching intellect, and her commitment to the Church of Jesus Christ. I am unable to express adequately my sadness at her passing. We have lost a kind, loving, and great friend. I express my heartfelt sympathy to the family and hope they will find some peace in knowing that Laraine was a part of their lives and touched the lives of many others. Diane Williamson yumniwi@yahoo.com It is with great sadness that I write this. I was shocked to hear of Laraine's passing. I knew her just a short while and she touched my heart deeply. I had the honor of meeting her daughter this past summer and enjoyed our conversations and sharing of spiritual paths. I pray Creator has taken her into his realm with love and light. I pray her family be blessed with grace and ease during this time of sadness and loss. I will miss her smile, her generous heart, her loving nature, and her love of life. Many blessings to her and her family, Diane Williamson Barbara Dixon To Laraine's family I am so so sorry for your tragic loss. I worked with Laraine through the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company Advisory Board. She was a talented person and able manager. The full board enjoyed her wry sense of humor as well as her insightful ideas and efficiency in organizing and accomplishing board business. Over the past year, I came to know Laraine on a more personal level and valued her as a friend as well. She was a real asset as development director for the comapany. We will miss her tremendously. with deepest sympathy, Barbara Dixon Bruce and Heather Thornton voyageursv@juno.com Our deepest sympathy goes out to each of you as you mourn the loss of your loved one. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her. We will always remember her as a sweet and caring person. We had many good times together. She was truly a talented person. She actually even conducted the music at our wedding in July of 2003. Each of you, and especially Lena, will be in our prayers as well as our fasts. David Jackson and family dadco37@hotmail.com We are sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Sorry we cannot be there at this time, but we do send our Love. Douglas Weibel [weibel@biochem.wisc.edu] The Weibel Family weibel@biochem.wisc.edu We are at a loss for words about the events of the past week. Laraine was a wonderful woman and a loving mother--we will miss her. We send much love your way at this time of loss and will continue praying for Lena's recovery. M.A.Greer [magreerflutes@comcast.net] I am writing to express deepest sadness and sorrow at the loss of our great friend and to inform the family that some of us from her Boston family will soon organize a memorial get-together on her behalf. I met Laraine at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club where I coached basketball. Lena was trying to enter a team mid-session and when asked if I “minded” having a girl on our team, I expressed shock at the question. “Of course! Give me ALL girls!” This impress Laraine and also my son Patrick whom I was coaching. When asked, Lena said she was a point guard. I asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her unabashed reply was “A WNBA point guard.” So I sent her out on the floor and told the team she was our new point guard. The “boys” ignored her, never passing her the ball. I stopped the game and assured them if they didn’t give her the ball, she would be the only one out on the floor very soon. As Lena then impressed all with her skills, a friendship developed between Laraine and Lena, Patrick and myself. We got together often to play basketball outside on any court we could find. Laraine and I shared our poetry and as an ex-German student myself and movie buff, we enjoyed hours of discussions and film watching, while the kids played on the computer or watched movies with us. As Laraine was terribly busy with her doctoral work at Harvard, Patrick & I treated Lena to many evenings of watching the Celtics and eating Tacos, Laraine’s favorite of my dishes. We always had fun and always enjoyed an open and free dialogue concerning everything under the sun, and the kids often joined in. We often played host to Laraine and Lena’s visits to Boston, as homebase for their visits to many friends. I wish I’d paid better attention to these friends so I could contact them now with this sad news. What I do know is Laraine was a very spiritual person, tried her best to convert me to Mormonism, was a very good mother, and a great friend. I will miss her in the years to come, but feel the joy of having known her and know that she is in that good place we talked about often. Our love for her daughter Lena will continue as we hope we can somehow offer her the future support she will need to deal with this event. I hope to hear from someone in the family or George regarding an update on Lena’s condition, as there are many friends here in Boston who need to know and want to offer support. I hope that all Laraine’s friends and family can find solace in the joy of having known her and can remember her for her wonderful mind, her gracious humanity, and continue to feel close to her through her greatest accomplishment, her wonderful daughter Lena. Michael A. Greer magreerflutes@comcast.net Craig, Liz, Vanessa and Lisette Oler craig_oler@sbcglobal.net Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins and Lena, It is difficult to write about the sadness which followed learning of Laraine's injury and death. Please accept our condolences and know we continue to pray for your ability to cope with this difficult chain of events. We miss our old friend. We miss laughing over cultural differences we found in Provo, Xi'an, Boston and Houston. We miss the writer who took the time to encourage Vanessa's writing and editing. We will miss the Harvard post-graduate student who introduced me to "King of the Hill" and who would play ball with Lisette. We will remember what it is like to have an old friend. We will remember to take time to be caring, to be interested in ideas and to seize the opportunity to make a difference. We will remember our friendship with Laraine and are happy for the memories she leaves to our family. Please accept our deepest sympathy, Craig, Liz, Vanessa and Lisette Oler Houston, Texas Henry Miles I was saddened this evening to learn of the passing of Laraine. I have worked with her as a copy editor of Irreantum since she took over as editor. Marilyn McIntosh mmcintosh7336@yahoo.com My son Joey and I want to express our sadness at the loss of Lena's mom. We pray for dear little Lena and remember them both fondly here at the Arlington Ward in Massachusetts. Sandy Schlueter aikoprecious@yahoo.com I just heard about Laraine. I am shocked and saddened. I worked with Laraine for about a year. She was knowledgable, intelligent, and willing to share her knowledge with anyone. And she had a great sense of humor. I will remember her in my prayers. Margaret Rae Eller Dear loved ones of Laraine . . . As a member of the SLC 11th Ward we knew, loved and admired Laraine. We appreciated her talent as the Ward organist. We lost a beloved daughter two years ago, so we know your suffering and have often said "children should outlive their parents." Please accept our sympathy, our thoughts and prayers are with you. LaVon and Rae Eller Kimberly Burnett burnettkw@yahoo.com I am so saddened by this news. Laraine and I had great talks while jogging around Arlington together. I will miss her. Our prayers are with her family. Curtis Davis I drop by her house and move the cans back in their place her car in the drive the porch light on sun burning late afternoon . . . the tomatoes I gave her this spring planted late still green on the vine too soon for harvest O Laraine, why have you gone! C.C. Davis Scott Taylor I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I fondly remember growing up with your family and grieve for you. She was a wonderful person. May God give you comfort in this time and may you celebrate the life she had. Anna Dunavin It has been difficult to know how to best convey my sorrow for your loss. I was lucky enough to have been Laraine and Lena's roommate here in Boston for a year and will miss Laraine's great insights and wonderful example of motherhood. Please know that your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Kristiina Sorensen kristiina@sorensens.net Our hearts have been crushed by the news of Laraine's death and Lena's injuries. We are so sorry for your family and all that they must be going through right now. It was a wonderful gift to have Lena and Laraine move into our ward in Boston several years ago. My daughter was thrilled to have another friend her age, and I was delighted to become friends with someone as thoughtful and strong as Laraine. What a rotten and tragic loss this is. -Kristiina Shirley Ririe [shirley@ririewoodbury.com] Dear Family of Laraine Wilkins, I feel particularly responsible for the fact that Laraine worked for Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. A little over a year ago I was riding down to one of the Utah Arts Council’s “Listening Tours” with Guy Lebeda. I had not known Guy well before that time, but he was very generous to offer me a ride so I did not have to drive to Provo alone. I was most grateful and we had a wonderful time exchanging experiences and getting acquainted. During that ride I told Guy that we were looking for someone to head our Development and Community Relations office in the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Guy recommended Laraine, she came in to interview with us and we were very much taken with her. She proved to be an excellent choice. Laraine was such an brilliant writer and she was intelligent and savvy and understood what was needed without a lot of explanation. I loved working with her. She had a lovely quiet and unassuming way with her, yet she was always quick with results and wrote some very beautiful grants for us. I thought we had made an exceptional choice in hiring Laraine and I was hoping we would work many years together. This accident was so terrible, it is devastating when something like that happens with no fault on the part of the car Laraine and Lena were in. To snuff out a brilliant life is so unfair. To leave that beautiful Lena paralyzed is dreadful. She was such an enthusiastic athlete and had such a bright future ahead. From what I know about her character, I think she is going to work her way through this and I wouldn’t be surprised if she used her athletic ability to win prizes in the Para Olympics or similar causes. I can’t imagine how your family is dealing with this tragedy. I try to put myself into your place and I know I cannot come close to the feelings that surround all of you. Wendy has been wonderful to keep us informed of Laraine’s condition. We were so concerned and did not know how to get information. George has been very sweet also. We do appreciate the generosity of both these family members to us who are strangers to them but we feel like Laraine is part of our family too. I am writing in behalf of all of us at Ririe-Woodbury. We are going to visit Lena tomorrow. Please let us know if we can do anything for you. We would be very happy to be of service to your family and to Lena. I am including the note we are taking to Lena tomorrow from all of us. With sincere sympathy Shirley Ririe Sara Lee Gibb [sara_lee_gibb@byu.edu] (forwarded by Shirley Ririe) Dear Shirley, Company and All, Thank you for informing us about Laraine. This is indeed, a tragic event. Our love and prayers go out to you all and her family and her daughter. Thank you for letting us know where we can help. With sadness, Sara Lee Gibb Scott Iwasaki [scott@desnews.com (forwarded by Shirley Ririe) My condolences. I'm so sorry. I met Laraine a couple of times. Wonderful woman and, as you said, brilliant. Take care Scott Iwasaki Vanessa Oler voler@byu.net Laraine was a good friend and mentor. She helped me realize some of my writing and editing potential and worked to let me achieve it. Through her guidance and suggestions, I've created some of my best work. Once I arrived at BYU, she opened her home in Salt Lake to me and we enjoyed a few weekends together. I will cherish those memories forever. I will miss her dearly, but I know she is where she needs to be right now - with God. Thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter and sharing her with the world. Love, Vanessa Mary L. Bradford marybradford@adelphia.net I never met her, but I admired her work and her contribuitons to Mormon literature. Friends who knew her told me that shewas beautiful with an incandescent persoality. The world will be dimmer without her. David Brizzee davidbrizzee1964@hotmail.com I am deeply saddened to learn of Laraine's death and of the serious injuries of her daughter, Lena. Laraine was a very good friend from high school where we both participated on the debate team, attended French Club, and participated together in other activities. Laraine would have been a state champion debater, but she could never be mean enough to her opponents to do so. She was simply too gracious. Although I was never any good at the time speaking French, Laraine, with her outstanding French, encourged me on anyway with her tutoring. I eventually served a mission in France, which still remains one of the remarkable highlights of my life. One of my most vivid memories from high school was chatting with Laraine and a group of friends over dinner and dessert at a local restaurant, discussing ideas (not people - Laraine was never a gossip) a bit past whatever curfew our parents had imposed. My parents could not have been too worried, however, knowing that I was with Laraine and other good friends, and I'm sure Laraine's parents and others probably felt the same way. Laraine was beautiful, brilliant, witty, and a very caring and generous friend. I especially admired her deep intellect, which was never corrupted with cynicism or rancor. Laraine was a thoroughly decent person who was taken from all of us, but especially those closest to her - her family, much, much too soon. You are all in my thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time. Ann Brown eabrown99@yahoo.com About Lena -- Dear Family of Lena and Loraine, My son Joel was paralyzed in a car accident when he was 9 years old. He is now 17 and the Studentbody President of Cyprus High School (Magna, UT). I am going to give him this e-mail because he would like to come visit Lena at the hospital when she would be ready for a visit. Thanks and deepest best wishes, Ann Brown (acquaintance of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co.) Joel Brown krippledjoel@yahoo.com Hi. My name is Joel Brown. I am writing this letter to Lena. Hello. I don't know you, but I heard about you from my mother who knew your mother. I was paralyzed at T-4 100% after a car accident when I was nine years old. I am now 17. I don't know anything about you, but that you now have some paralysis. I am very sorry that this had to happen to you. I would be very honored to come meet and visit with you. I'm sorry about your mother. She is a beautiful woman from the picture. My parents were also married in the temple and divorced. Anyway, I'm sorry, and I would love to meet you. Best of luck, Joel Brown Mark Evans I worked with Laraine for several years. She was a smart, kind person to work with. She had a good sense of humor and a sweet smile. I remember Laraine with fondness. I was saddened when I heard of her passing. Please accept my condolences. Mack Sermon msermon@albertson.edu From Mack and Sue Sermon-- The Sermon siblings were permanently tied to Laraine, Kip and Travis Wilkins in our formative years. We all had a thirst for learning and an appreciation for the truly important aspects of life. I (Mack) was fortunate to a attend a prom with Laraine - a treasured picture recently relieved of many years of dust. She may have been the best "gal that got away" in my life. Lariane devotion to learning was an inspiration to both of the Sermons that permanently landed in higher education. The world is a little less vibrant without Laraine. Our family extends all of out love and support to the Wilkins family, particaular the wonderful little girl we never were fortunate enough to meet. With all Love, Mack Sermon Director of Speech & Debate Albertson College of Idaho and Suzanne Sermon Professor of History Green River Community College Elizabeth Bentley (epbentley@hotmail.com) I had the pleasure of working with Laraine on Irreantum. She'll be greatly missed. Please accept my sympathy. Beth Karen Hoag khoag@heraldextra.com Dear Curt & LaVern, I'm sorry to hear of the death of Laraine, your sweet oldest daughter. I remember her in Wyview Village running around with her two brothers. Of course I met her when she was an adult when we returned to UT for BYU Education Week. A lovely one, she turned out to be. Please accept my sympathy. Last time I heard, you were in Germany. Love to hear from you sometime, maybe at Christmas we can exchange notes. Diane Brown [brownd@macalester.edu] To Laraine's family, I just learned of Laraine's accident and death. I met Laraine many years ago, in a comp lit class at BYU. Then, I had the happy surprise of bumping into her in Harvard yard, where I was a few years ahead of her in a Ph.D. program. We saw each other often at Harvard. We had this mostly unspoken bond that came from having both come from the other side of the world. As you no doubt know, Cambridge is very, very far from Provo in every way. It is a bit of a cliche, but I do believe that the phrase "still waters run deep" characterizes Laraine as I knew her. I was drawn to her calm, thoughtful, and always gentle way. She listened well and always remembered what we talked about. I went to lunch once with Laraine and Lena -- in a very bad Chinese food place right in Harvard Square. I loved seeing Laraine with Lena and having a window into the most important part of Laraine's life. I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Laraine fondly and, even though I haven't seen her in many years, I feel so terribly sad that such a vibrant, good soul was taken many, many years too soon. Yours, Diane Brown Kara (Esparza) Lattimer kamplats@charter.net I am deeply sorry for your loss. As my parents shared the news, I have continued to pray for your peace and for Laraine's daughter as you go through this emotional time. My love and prayers are with you all. Erika Boeckeler (2/12/2007) boeckelere@kenyon.edu I have just learned tonight of Laraine's passing when I tried sending her an email, and am shocked and deeply saddened by this sudden loss. Laraine and I attended graduate school together at Harvard, and we maintained sporadic contact with each other over the years after she left. Whenever she came to Boston, she would always drop me a line and we'd meet up for culture and ideas. She is one of those few people with whom I was in total creative sympathy with - we both got excited by the same kinds of ideas, and I always left coversations inspired by Laraine's ways of understanding the world. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this loss; Laraine was one of the most alive people I've ever known, and she will be so missed. My condolences.