A funeral service for Laurie J. VanderPlaats of Tarkio, Missouri, was held Friday, July 7, 2017, at First Baptist Church, Tarkio. Interment was held at Center Grove Cemetery, Westboro, Missouri. Reverend Glenn Scott officiated. Services were under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.
Laurie, the daughter of Kenneth and Shirley (Kemerling) Walkup, was born May 4, 1966, in Fairfax, Missouri. She attended Tarkio High School, Tarkio, graduating in 1984. Laurie attended one year of college at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri.
On June 4, 1988, Laurie was united in marriage to Harold VanderPlaats. They made their home in Tarkio.
Laurie was a nurse’s aide, med tech, and assistant office manager at Northview Manor Nursing Home for 25 years, and then was employed in home health care, caring for several ladies in Tarkio. She was also the bookkeeper for her and Harold’s business, H & L, LLC.
Laurie enjoyed fishing, loved her dogs, baking, and cooking. Holidays were an important time for her and she enjoyed hosting the family during those events. Laurie passed away surrounded by her family, Sunday, July 2, 2017, at her home in Tarkio at the age of 51.
In addition to her parents, Laurie was preceded in death by brother, Michael Walkup, and nephew, Daniel Walkup. Survivors include husband, Harold, Tarkio; siblings, Robert Walkup and wife, Ruth, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Teresa Walkup, Tarkio, and Stephen Walkup and wife, Shannon, Foristell, Missouri; stepmother, Joyce Walkup, Tarkio; stepsiblings, Heather Olson and husband, Jeff, Tarkio, Jason Sutter and wife, Tina, Platte City, Missouri, and Holly Huntley and husband, Jeremy, Rock Port, Missouri; sister-in-law, Tracy Howerton and husband, Russell, Boonville, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Laurie VanderPlaats Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.