Laurie Anne MacDowell's Obituary
Laurie Anne MacDowell, age 53, passed away at her home on April 15, 2020, as a result of longstanding health conditions.
Laurie was born on March 2, 1967, in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Olga (Rutman) MacDowell and Logan W. MacDowell. On Laurie’s third birthday, the family moved to Norton Shores.
During her childhood, Laurie was an avid reader, participated in drama groups, and loved spending time each summer with her family in Elko, Nevada and at Silver Lake. At Mona Shores High School, Laurie played flute in the school bands and enjoyed performing with the Thespians. Throughout her life, she remembered some of her lines from plays that she appeared in. Laurie earned her associate’s degree at Muskegon Community College, and then attended Western Michigan University.
In 1990, Laurie married Jeffry Hilliard of Muskegon, and the two lived in Texas and North Dakota. Despite their parting and his eventual passing, Laurie treasured Jeff’s memory throughout her life.
Wishing to be closer to her parents, friends, and Lake Michigan, Laurie returned to her home community. She worked for years as a shipping manager for a local marina. Among her volunteer activities, Laurie provided backstage assistance for the Singing Christmas Tree. She also was instrumental in helping to reorganize the Mona Shores Alumni Band, whose fellow musicians have described her as their unofficial historian.
Since her passing, Laurie’s friends and relatives have remembered her as kind, funny, loyal, curious, and determined. Laurie cared deeply about her family and also her friends, maintaining relationships over decades, and often communicating with friends on a daily basis. She surely would want everyone to remember the proper usage of there, their, and they’re; not to confuse you’re and your; and to follow the rules for proper capitalization.
Laurie is survived by her beloved mother, Olga; sister, Lisa MacDowell (Chandler Gilman) of Danville, Vermont; cherished niece, Thea MacDowell-Gilman; cousin, Cindy (Brian) Francisco of Gobles; cousins Susan Bolton, Sarah Carmody, and Andrew Francisco, and their own five children; cousin Ann (Don) Bruner of Elko, Nevada; cousins Brenda (Pete) Costello and Gina (Tommy) Baker, and their five children; and Aunt Susan Stieber of Livonia, and her family. Laurie also is survived by her beloved Daisy and BooKitty, both of whom are now in loving homes. Laurie was preceded in death by her father, Logan.
Additionally, Laurie is survived by a remarkable group of friends spanning from Hile Elementary School through her adulthood. Susan (Toppen) Farrell has bookended Laurie’s life with a bond of long friendship and with grace. Laurie’s family will be grateful forever for the outpouring of love and support in recent days from these dedicated friends who were so tremendously important to her.
Contributions in memory of Laurie could be made to the Muskegon Humane Society, Every Woman’s Place in Muskegon, or the Joey Hekkema Memorial Fund through the Community Foundation of Muskegon County at www.muskegonfoundation.org. A memorial celebration of Laurie’s life will take place at a later time.
What’s your fondest memory of Laurie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Laurie?
Share a story where Laurie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Laurie you’ll never forget.
How did Laurie make you smile?