Laura Joyce (Ford) Gilger, 78, of Emporia, Kansas died Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City after a brief illness.

Laura was born December 20, 1947, in Abilene, Kansas. She was the daughter of Richard and Redora (Carter) Ford, and the younger sister of Carla.

The family relocated to Minneapolis, Kansas, where she attended and graduated from Minneapolis High School in 1965. It was also in Minneapolis where she met Donald “Don” Gilger, whom she married in 1966.

Laura attended Beauty School in Salina, Kansas, before Don’s military service took them to Spokane, Washington. They later lived in Las Vegas, Nevada; Salina, Kansas and New Cambria, Kansas before settling in Emporia, Kansas in 1986, with their children Eric and Cynthia “Cindy”. Laura spent most of her life caring for others. In Emporia, Laura worked at Village Elementary School as a school para. She devoted herself to the care of her daughter, Cindy. She also cared for her mother, Redora, and her Aunt Ethel.

Laura loved horses, dogs, photography, and genealogy. Laura had many four-legged friends throughout the years, but her dog “Midge” remained her faithful companion.

Family will always remember her laughter, her love of games, movies, sleepovers with grandkids, and her affinity for burned chocolate chip cookies.

Laura is survived by her husband, Donald Gilger, her son Eric (Lesley), grandchildren Breanna (Garrison) and Christopher (Kelsey), and great grandchildren Milo and Vivian. She was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Redora (Carter) Ford, her sister Carla Mendez, and her daughter Cynthia “Cindy” Gilger.

Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, 605 State St, Emporia. Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service for a time of sharing. Inurnment will be privately held at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Emporia Friends of the Zoo, sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801. The family requests casual dress, please wear comfortable clothing to celebrate Laura’s life.