On March 22, 2024, Laurel Jennette (Fisher) Ferrel moved forward into the eternities. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, mentor and friend.
Laurel was born on December 11, 1939, to Alma and Elva Fisher. She had two older sisters: Martha (Fisher) Ward (deceased) and Karin (Fisher) Taylor (deceased). She grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and graduated from Bountiful High School in 1958.
Laurel earned a degree in Secondary Education while attending Brigham Young University on a debate scholarship in 1962. She met and began dating David Warne Ferrel of Denair, CA, in 1960 prior to his missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They wrote to each other during his 2.5-year mission to Uruguay and when he returned they were married 7 months later in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple on May 31, 1963. After college, they moved to Berkeley, California, where Laurel taught high school English while David worked on his MBA. After David graduated from UC Berkeley, they moved to Dearborn, Michigan, where they began their family.
They had six children: Jennette Amy Putt (s. John, 3 sons), Kathryn Elva Miller (s. Rick, 4 daughters), Kristin June Hargis (s. Clay, 3 sons, 2 daughters), Mark Warne Ferrel (s. Lisa, 2 daughters, 4 sons), Melanie Susan Ferrel (deceased), and David Benjamin Ferrel (s. Jana, 2 daughters, 2 sons). She is survived by her husband of 60 years, David. Laurel loved and was proud of their 22 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who brought happiness and joy to her life.
Laurel loved church service, missionary work, family history, watching sports that her children were excited about, flowers, Jane Austen classics, the Tabernacle Choir, and Broadway showtunes. She was a gracious hostess who opened her home to all her children’s friends and who hosted for many professional and church occasions. But her favorite hosting was the annual Summer Cousins’ Camp for her grandchildren that she and David hosted from 2000-2007. She served in many roles and callings in the Church, including serving twice with David when they were called as a Mission President/Leaders in the Ecuador Quito Mission, 1976-1979, and in the Santiago, Chile MTC/CCM, 2008-2010. She served with David when he was an Area Authority Seventy, taught early-morning seminary for eight years and served six times as a Relief Society President. She was a temple worker in Oakland, CA; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; and The Gila Valley Arizona temples.
Laurel and David retired to Safford, Arizona, where they spent her final eight years, living very close to their daughter, Kristin, and her family. They have enjoyed visiting and being visited by their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who are spread far and wide across the US, and they found joy in contributing to many of their grandchildren’s missions. They have also been blessed to have been visited by many of their former missionaries from their time as Mission Leaders.
Laurel developed many close friendships in their new Ward and Stake. She enjoyed serving in their local temple, teaching in their ward, and feeding the local missionaries. Laurel’s family would like to say thank you to her wonderful friends in Safford who have made these final years a joyful bookend to her life.
Funeral services for Laurel will be conducted Saturday, March 30, 2024. A viewing will be held at 12:15 p.m., in the South LDS chapel in Turlock, CA (4300 Geer Rd, Turlock, CA 95382) where David grew up and where Laurel’s father-in-law, Rex Warne Ferrel, served as the Bishop for many years; followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m., also at the LDS chapel. The gravesite dedication and burial will follow at 2:30 p.m., at Lakewood Memorial Park (900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA 95326). Laurel will be buried beside her dear daughter, Melanie, who passed away 50 years ago in Laurel’s arms at the age of 2.
Online condolences may be offered at www.viningfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Vining Funeral Home.
