Laura Christine Anderson

Laura Christine Beeson Anderson passed away on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at Seasons Health and Rehabilitation Center in St. George, Utah surrounded by her family. She succumbed to complications from a brain injury, which she battled gracefully for nearly twenty-eight years.

Despite an extremely difficult and unfair life, Laura was a faithful, happy, kind, and courageous woman. She was complimentary, witty, playful, exciting, intense, brutally honest, hysterically funny, pure-hearted and full of genuine goodness. Laura loved 80’s music (especially Def Leppard), movies with popcorn, date nights, the Olive Garden, Milk Duds, car rides, root beer floats, chocolate chip cookies, fireworks, Lagoon and time with friends and family. She mysteriously won almost every game of UNO she ever played.

Laura was born on November 15, 1973, as the oldest of four children to Wayne Beeson and Vickie Davis Beeson on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Her family moved from California to Salt Lake City, Utah, and eventually settled in Layton and Farmington, Utah. Laura attended Davis High School where she excelled as an artist, writer, and athlete. Laura earned a varsity letter on the first girl’s soccer team at Davis High. Throughout high school, Laura enjoyed sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with classmates and friends. During her senior year, her family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she continued developing her musical and athletic talents. Laura graduated from Valley High School in Las Vegas in 1991.

After graduation, she attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), majoring in English and Music. She excelled in her academic pursuits, sang in the university acapella choir, and was active in the Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA), where she served as vice president. She was a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many church positions. Following the example of her gregarious mother Vickie, she took every opportunity to help people feel important, welcomed, and loved. She built bridges of friendship and connected people from all walks of life. While serving in the LDSSA in the spring of 1992, she met and welcomed an incoming student named James Anderson, and that meeting changed many lives for the good, especially James’.

On April 10, 1993, James and Laura were married in the Church’s Las Vegas, Nevada Temple. They continued attending UNLV together, and in October 1994, they welcomed their first child, Spencer James. The following year, James was accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Laura quickly became involved in their church and community. In August 1996, they welcomed their second child, Meghan Christine. Laura loved being a mother. She brought joy, laughter, a sense of wellness, and confidence into the lives of her young children.

On October 27, 1996, at 22 years old, her life changed forever when her heart failed and she collapsed while leading the music at church. At the time, James was a 25-year-old bishop in their ward, Spencer was two years old, and Meghan was two months old. Though miraculously surviving the incident, Laura suffered the consequences of a severe anoxic brain injury for the remainder of her life. Among many physical, mental, and emotional impairments, she suffered loss of mobility and loss of short- and long-term memory. Her many roles in life, including as a wife and mother, changed dramatically with the onset of the brain injury, but she trusted in God and allowed her life to become a blessing to many people she otherwise may not have influenced.

Laura’s extended family valiantly rallied around her young family to help James finish school, launch his career, raise the children, and help with Laura. Their commitment to these goals brought them first to Omaha, Nebraska, and later to Burley, Idaho, where Laura’s children attended high school. Despite the ongoing struggle with the intense effects of her condition, Laura’s family included her in every one of the children’s academic, athletic, music, church, and family events. She made her family members feel like rock stars by enthusiastically cheering them on, often with colorful language. In 2014, she moved with her family to St. George, Utah. Laura made many close friends in all these locations. Besides her family, she loved and was loved by the many caregivers who supported her difficult and amazing life journey. Laura’s resilience and optimism amid personal trials inspired those who knew her to make the best of their own situation and to trust in the Savior, Jesus Christ, whom she loved.

Laura is survived by her former husband James (Karen) Anderson of St. George, UT, her son Spencer (Katelyn) Anderson of Provo, UT, her daughter Meghan (Andreas) Lindquist with two grandchildren Gustav and Ingrid Lindquist of Stockholm, Sweden, her father Wayne Beeson of Chattanooga, TN, her sister Allison (Mikal) Balmforth of North Kingstown, RI, her brother Marshall (Melissa) Beeson of Katy, TX, her brother Nate (Brittanie) Beeson of Chattanooga, TN. Laura is preceded in death by her mother Vickie Beeson, her father-in-law Donald Anderson, and two nephews, Kaden Jones and Dieter Anderson.

The family would like to acknowledge the unexpected and tragic passing of Laura’s brother Marshall within twenty-four hours of her death.

Funeral services for Laura will be on Saturday, June 1st at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1155 N 1400 W St. George, UT 84770. Friends and family will be welcomed at a viewing on Friday, May 31st from 6:30-8:00 pm at Hughes Mortuary 1037 E 700 S St. George, UT 84790, and on Saturday, June 1st from 9:30-11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1155 N 1400 W St. George, UT 84770.