Laura Mae Simonek, 1945-2021

Laura Mae Simonek, 75, of Forney went home to be with the Lord on April 18, 2021. She was born on Aug. 3, 1945 to Donald Udell and Valta Aline Parsons at the Naval Air Base in Norman, Okla. She moved many times when she was young. She lived in Florida, Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii and Midwest City, Okla. Laura graduated from Midwest City High School in 1963.  

Laura married her knight in shining armor, Edward Leslie Simonek, on Jan. 17, 1964. Laura was 19 and Les was 20 at the time. Over time Les and Laura added three children to their family: Leslie Dean Simonek, Deanna Denise Simonek and Michael Dale Simonek. Laura was so proud of their children. She also had two grandsons, Christopher Ryan Simonek and Jacob Cole Simonek, and one great-grandson, Elijah Simonek.

She was a stay-at-home mother until their youngest child started kindergarten. From 1972-2008 she had a very successful career in information systems working as a programmer, analyst, database designer, manager, and eventually director of the data warehousing department. She also worked as a consultant teaching SQL, database design and data modeling courses. From 2008-2014 she joined A-Plus Industrial, the company she started with her husband, and worked in a management capacity until retirement. Laura had a zest for life that was unparalleled. She relished time spent with friends and family and loved taking trips all across the globe with them.  

She was preceded in death by her mother, father, step-father and her brother, Jimmy. She is survived by her brother, Glenn; husband; three children; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Laura was laid to rest at New Hope Funeral Home at 500 East Highway 80, Sunnyvale. Visitation was held Friday, April 23 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 24.