2024 Honoree

Laury McCullough

Laury was born in October 1951 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Ramona and Arvin Frye and passed away in January 2023 from small cell lung cancer. 

Laury spent most of her adult life in Texas;  it really was where she felt at home..it had everything she loved… Bluebonnets, HEB  and of course Ladies State Chili Cook off.

She would prepare for that cook off for months ahead of time …whether it be making buttons or preparing showmanship garb…it truly was one of her most favorite cook offs. She always said if I ever win first place I will never cook again…unfortunately she never did win first place.  During her brief hospital stay the “Ladies” from Ladies State sent her a dozen yellow roses and as soon as she saw them she said “just like the queens”!

She married Lee McCullough and made her home in Austin, Texas until recently she had moved to New Mexico to be closer to her kids ,grandkids, and great grandkids…she was thrilled to be just a few blocks away.

Laury had some real close friends that were like family, with Debera Frye being her closest friend, they talked on the phone every day.  They had gone on a cruise in September to Alaska and she enjoyed the trip so much that her second cruise was already on her calendar!

Laury had two sisters Kathy and Marsha who she always referred to as the big girls, two kids, three grandkids and five great grandkids.

She was a very practical woman except for her love of linens especially bedspreads.

She loved to prowl through the local goodwill stores looking for a bargain or a basket.

She spent many years being a medical transcriptionist. She educated herself in all the medical terminology and was very meticulous about each and every report being complete and accurate and no spelling errors.

Growing up she never had a pet and as an adult never a dog until Bubba. After Bubba passed away she did get three dogs: Chester, Daisy and Gizmo. She quickly became the “dog lady” – truth be known those were her favorite kids. 

She was a great cook and loved to make sweets. She always said eat the dessert first! 

I will miss her forever…I will love her forever…

Shelly Cardonita