in memoriam

During the course of my training and career in special education, I had the honor of working with a dedicated, organized, loving, master teacher named Laura Stuver. Not only did she help me survive my summer practicum (the only time in my life I can remember when my dad requested to give me a blessing), I had the privilege of completing my student teaching in her classroom for kindergarteners with Autism. She died after battling cancer for a year while maintaining her job teaching students and mentoring teachers.

Her distinct style impacted my own teaching more than any other individual and I feel blessed to have known her and worked with her. Below is her obituary, which was printed in the Deseret Morning News today.

Laura Marie Stuver
Laura Marie Stuver 1970 ~ 2007 Laura Marie Stuver, 36, went home to Heaven on Saturday, August 4, 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Provo, UT on Oct. 18, 1970 to Michael D. and Marie T. Stuver. When she was almost three years old, the family moved to Parker, AZ where she attended preschool and early elementary school years. When she was 10 years old the family moved to Boulder City, NV where she completed the remainder of her public education. Throughout her early life she participated in swimming and band. She graduated from Boulder City High School in 1988 then promptly moved with her family to Provo, UT where she attended Brigham Young University. There she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. She then earned her Masters Degree in Special Education, with an emphasis on Autism, from the University of Utah. She began her career teaching an Autistic Transitional Kindergarten Class at Vineyard Elementary School in Orem, UT and became the Autism Specialist for Alpine School District. She held these positions until her death. Laura loved her job and found great joy in going to work each day to teach the little ones left in her care. She also mentored several children individually through the Respite Care Program. She became very close to them and loved them like brothers. She loved traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Some of her favorite places were Walt Disney World, Austria and Germany. Her last unfulfilled wish was to go once more with her niece and nephews to Walt Disney World. Laura loved hiking, attending musicals and plays, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her family and extended family, especially her niece and four nephews with whom she was very close. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was very faithful, had a strong testimony in the Plan of Salvation and knew that she was ready to go to Heaven. She is survived by her parents; four siblings, Kent (Darlene), Brian, Jon (Casey), Becci (David) Swinton; one niece, four nephews, and her step-grandmother, Lillian, as well as many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Bessie and Lyman Tyler, Betty and Dick Stuver, an uncle and two cousins. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 9, 2007 in the Provo Parkway Stake Center, 2801 West 620 North, Provo, UT 84601. Family and friends may call Wed. evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Berg Mortuary, 185 East Center Street, Provo, UT 84606 and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday morning prior to the services at the Church (A scrapbook will be available for those wishing to bring a page to add to the memory book). Interment will be held at the East Lawn Memorial Hills. Condolences may be sent to info@bergmortuary.com Thank you, Laura, for the influence for good you have had on so many.