Marion Jane Lau

Marion Jane Lau, 96, of Hot Springs, AR, was enfolded into the loving arms of her savior on April 28, 2015. She was born Dec. 8, 1918, in Chicago, IL, to Hal Phillip Gibson and Ellen Smith Gibson. She graduated from Thornton High School, Harvey, IL, in 1937. On October 7, 1939, Marion married the love of her life, Laverne Joseph Lau, at Ascension Church in Harvey. Besides raising four children, she worked in the banking and credit industries. In 1978 Marion and Verne retired to Cherokee Village, AR, where she was active at St. Michael’s Church, the hospital guild, hospice, square dancing, and golf. After her husband’s death in 2003, Marion moved to West Shores in Hot Springs, AR, where she won several medals for stationary bicycling in the Senior Olympics, knitted for charitable causes, and served as librarian. She is survived by her son, John Robert (Sarah) Lau of College Park, Maryland, and three daughters: Janet (Tom) Liszka of Hot Springs Village, AR, Marilynn Swanson of Oxford, Wisconsin, and Nancy Lau of Chicago, IL. She also leaves nine grandchildren: John, Doug (Jen), Mike and Karin Liszka, Tina Ward (Pete), Bill Swanson (Anne), Eric Swanson, Ellen Alvares De Azevedo Lau (Thomaz) and Rachel Lau. Her twelve surviving great-grandchildren are Sean, Ryan, Kaley, Griffin, Tara and Addison Liszka, Nicholas and Heidi Ward, William, Andrew, and Lexie Swanson, and Tadeau Alvares De Azevedo Lau. She also leaves two nieces, three nephews, three grandnieces, four grandnephews, and her “sister” Kay Vogler. She was predeceased by her parents, two brothers (Robert and Jack Gibson), brother-in-law (Earl Lau), three sisters-in-law (Ruth and Lorna Gibson and Gwen Lau), two sons–in-law (Bill Swanson and Jim Hudson), a grandchild, a great-grandchild (Conner), and a nephew, Patrick. Marion had a competitive, adventuresome spirit, loved to play games, and usually won. Our “Cookie Lady” will forever be in our hearts. Visitation will be Sunday, May 3, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at the Tri-County Funeral Home in Highland, AR. Mass of Resurrection will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Monday, May 4, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Columbarium at a later date. Arrangements are with Tri-County Funeral Home of Highland.