George Clark Laur arrived in the Westboro community on September 20, 1921. He lived for most of his 101 years in the Laur family farmhouse. In his youth he experienced the transition from work horses to tractors and at age 100 he enjoyed riding in GPS guided tractors and combines.

George’s parents, Thomas and Katherine Laur, moved to the Laur farmhouse when George was about two. His grandfather, George A. Laur, lived there with them until his death in 1940. The farmhouse also served as a temporary home for various extended relatives, especially during the Depression. George traveled across the road to Morning Sun School through elementary and middle school, then attended high school at Westboro Public School.

George attended Tarkio College as World War II was evolving in Europe and took flying classes through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Following an expedited graduation, George volunteered and served as a B-24 pilot flying out of Italy. Later in life he shared many stories about his war experience with family, at various community events and in classrooms. In recent years, he was regularly recognized as one of the few remaining WWII veterans in the area. While his children were helping George through the challenges of aging, he would often hold up his 101-year-old hands and say, “can you believe these hands flew a B-24?”

George considered becoming a commercial pilot following the War, but decided he had good reasons to return to Westboro. There was farming, community and most importantly, romance. While attending Westboro High School, George was close friends with Charles and Dean Hoshor, and took special notice of their younger sister, Mary Jane. She became his high-school sweetheart and they married in 1945, following his return from the war. George and Mary Jane were close in both distance and friendship to Charles and his wife Alice, and so were the cousins. Horses and bicycles served as frequent transportation over the dusty three miles between the two farms, and the Dean Hoshor family frequently joined the fun from southern Missouri.

Several years after Mary Jane’s passing in 1990, George married Patty Broermann, another Westboro High School classmate. George and Patty enjoyed 22 years together. Following Patty’s death in the summer of 2019, his daughter Linda lived with him on the farm, working as a tag-team with his other daughter, Barbara, and two sons, George Jr. and Dave.

George contributed to the community in a variety of ways. He was an active member of both the Westboro Methodist Church and Westboro Lions Club and served on the Westboro School Board for many of the years his children were in school.

George was a good son and a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He had a wonderful dry sense of humor and was a perfect master in the art of listening. From the time he was a child, George loved to read; he was always excited to get a new book as a gift or from the library. He enjoyed eating and had a hearty appetite. Pie was a favorite. Even when he was most tired, he could be perked up by visits from his great grandchildren.

George passed away January 3, 2023. In the hours that preceded his death, family sat at his bedside with more laughter than tears, telling stories of a life well-lived.

Survivors include children Barbara (Mike) of Silver Spring, Maryland; George Jr. (Kathy) of Holts Summit, Missouri; Linda of Houston, Texas; and David (Suzan) of Tarkio, Missouri; grandchildren Adam, James (Annie), Bryce (Lauren), and Britney (Brett); and great grandchildren Emmy, Maryann, Aria, Gavin and Leightyn. Family from his marriage with Patty include son, Larry (Lynn) Broermann; grandchildren, Michael, Kimberly (Brenda), Jeremy (Aaron), Ryan (Dawn), Jamie (Aaron) and several great grandchildren, all from Omaha, Nebraska.

Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M., Saturday, January 7, Westboro United Methodist Church, Westboro.

Open visitation begins 9:00 A.M., Friday, January 6, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 A.M., Saturday, prior to the service.

Interment: Center Grove Cemetery, Westboro.

Memorials: Westboro United Methodist Church Children’s Fund or Center Grove Cemetery.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com