Laurie Anne Wood (Tweed)

Published 7:05 pm Friday, March 13, 2015

IN LOVING MEMORY OF LAURIE ANNE WOOD (TWEED)

MAY 29th, 1966 to JANUARY 16th, 2015

How do you begin to describe a life of pure love and integrity? Laurie was the rock of our family. She never had a bad word for anybody, except herself. “Am I bad?”, she said it all the time. “Am I bad?” If the entire world was as bad as you were, the world would be Eden. Yes, she was bad. Once. The day you left us. Her positive outlook and winning smile in the face of cancer was a true inspiration to the heart. She gave and gave, never asking a thing in return. It was her nature, her way, it was Laurie.

She was born in Des Moines, IA to Mary Ellen and Donald Roy Tweed. The youngest of six children. She was truly the baby of the family and nobody foresaw the greatness she would achieve. For greatness is attained through sacrifice and humility and a selflessness few aspire to. Laurie did.

Mom was her world. “Cockers”, as Laurie called her, used to say, “She’s my 3rd hip!!!” For they were close in every single way. From their caring for the family to their generous hearts. Her teen years were hard, she felt she didn’t fit in. But her love of family kept her grounded, and she relished life the way we all should. She landed a job at Harrah’s Reno waitressing and found her calling in life. She was the hardest working soul. She was made to interact with people and spread her gentle warmth and true caring with whomever she encountered. From Harrah’s in Reno, to J.J. Newberry’s in Portland, or to IHOP in Portland and Bend, OR., all who crossed her path were infected with her. She touched people with her cheery disposition.

“Cakes and Eggs!”, as she always said, was a meal to remember if served by Laurie. She cared deeply for her regular customers and knew hundreds of them by name. It was at IHOP of Portland she would meet her best friend and hus- band, Butch Wood. They were married July 8, 2002 at their home in Portland, a beautiful ceremony in their front yard.

Butch was the manager at IHOP, and they both transferred to the Bend IHOP to be closer to family. Bend IHOP’s gain.

She soon endeared herself to her associates and customers and kept putting out those Cakes and Eggs. Always with a smile and a chuckle. Sometimes a snort. Like a horse. Horses, they were her true love. She encountered Joan Steelham- mer of Equine Outreach, a horse rescue ranch in Bend, and she fulfilled a dream of horse ownership. She also obtained friends and deep bonds with the other volunteers who give their all at the facility daily. She was in seventh heaven at the ranch. And our family thanks Joan and family, for your love, compassion, and true spirit of life …. she loved you all.

She was the heroine of many causes, and her family truly believes she had no idea how deeply she touched people!

That’s the grace and class in which she walked this life and carried herself with an esteem we are in honor of.

We miss you more than words can convey. We are at a loss. We have been robbed. These words are but a reflection of the heartfelt grief all are feeling.

But our Laurie is not suffering, she is in God’s hands. She is all we hope to be: real, pure, honest and safe. Bless you so.

Thank you for all that you were, and your sheer being shall resonate in our hearts forever. Souls like yours come few and far between and we shall harvest your bounty of love and riches beyond dreams.

Peace be with a great person, body and soul, and may your heart find all that it desires, Lord how we miss you!

Your family: Butch Wood, husband; Pamela O’Donoghue, sister, Stephanie Tweed, sister; Daniel Tweed, brother, Donald Tweed (DR), brother; Amanda Treloggen, niece, Natalee Reyes, niece, Mishayla Tweed, niece, Alicia Tweed, niece; Samuel O’Donoghue, nephew, Anthony Reyes, nephew; and her great-nephew, Tim Treloggen. She called Donna Tweed her “lil’” sis.

Jan, Gayle “F—-R“, Myke and too many friends to mention; remember, she loved you all.

And the Pugs: Cletus, Ebony and Chopper. They were so dear to her. Butch shall watch over them. Bless his soul.

And in loving memory: her parents who went before her, Mary and Don, (Cockers and Badlers); Diane Smith, her eldest sister; Jeremiah, Daniel and Gabriel, nephews taken away too early.

We lay these words at your feet Lord, guard her soul for those about to follow, and we will meet on a higher ground.

Bless your pure spirit Laurie, may it endure through time.

Celebration of Life Will Be Held At Equine Outreach, 63220 Silvis Rd., Bend, Oregon 97701 Friday, May 29th, 2015