Laurie Jean Staten

It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Laurie Jean (Thomas) Staten on August 1, 2026.

Laurie was born on September 25, 1959, in Flint, Michigan, to William Russell Thomas and Doris (Weiler) Thomas. After graduating from high school, Laurie left Michigan and set out for Texas, first making a home in Houston and later moving to Dallas.

In 1983, she met John Charles Staten, and the two were married on May 5, 1990. The following year, they welcomed their daughter, Lauren, and together they built a life and family over the next three decades. Laurie and John were married for 36 years until his passing earlier this year.

Laurie built a successful 34-year career with Merrill Lynch as a Private Wealth Advisor, a profession well suited to her intelligence, independence, and attention to detail. She retired from the firm in 2017.

Laurie was a private person who valued those closest to her and often showed she cared through the thoughtful details that made life special. Holidays and birthdays were something to look forward to because Laurie had a way of making each one beautiful and memorable. She had an eye for style and design and an appreciation for beautiful things, especially plants and flowers. Some of Lauren’s most treasured memories are found in the simple things - calling her mom for a favorite recipe, asking how she made something, or talking together about plants and flowers.

Later in life, Laurie took on a new and very special name: Mimi. Her grandson, Lyle, brought immense joy to her life, and the memories he made with his Mimi will remain a treasured part of her family.

Laurie was preceded in death by her parents, William Russell Thomas and Doris (Weiler) Thomas; her brother, Cpl. Gary Joseph Thomas; and her husband of 36 years, John Charles Staten.

She is survived by her daughter, Lauren Mae (Staten) Cooper; son-in-law, James Cooper; and grandson, Lyle James Cooper. She is also survived by her siblings, Robert Russell Thomas (Ingrid), Alan Douglas Thomas, Sue (Thomas) Metz, Kathleen Thomas, Jill (Thomas) Close (Dan), Mary Beth (Thomas) Valli (Tom), Patricia (Thomas) Hutchins (Greg), Marsha Thomas-Kilpela (Ben), and Terry Mark Thomas (Norma), as well as many nieces, nephews, and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on August 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Emporia, Kansas with the rosary recited at 10:00 a.m.. Burial will follow at Janesville Cemetery in Hamilton, Kansas, where Laurie will be laid to rest beside her husband, John.

Laurie’s unexpected passing leaves an absence that is difficult to put into words. She will be remembered in the traditions she created, the things she loved, and the many ways she made life a little more beautiful.