Obituary of Laurel Anne Kirsch

Laurel Anne Kirsch A celebration of Laurel Anne Kirsch's life will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Straub'sFuneral Home, 325 N.E. Third Ave., Camas, Wash. Laurel, who died Sept. 14 in a Portland hospital, was born Nov. 30, 1942, in Camas. After graduating from Camas High School in 1961, she attended Clark College before taking on a variety of jobs, including writing commercials for KISN radio, 9-1-1 dispatcher for Portland, and administrative assistant in both the Scholars and Theater Arts departments at Portland State University. Laurel graduated from PSU in 1998. After retiring from the university, she moved to the Southwest Washington coast and found new job interests at Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau and Independent Books. While living in Ocean Park and Long Beach, Laurel was active with volunteer work, including the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, South Pacific County Humane Society, Jazz and Oysters, Reach Out Food Bank and as a driver in the Long Beach Founders Day Parade. In addition, Laurel was a board member of the Water Music Festival in Long Beach and the River Theater in Astoria. Being an avid reader, she also was a member of the Long Beach Book Club. Known for her sharp wit often describing herself as a "tough old broad", Laurel touched everyone she came in contact with. She will be greatly missed. Laurel is survived by her mother, Dorothy Kirsch, of Vancouver, Wash.; sister Nancy Horton husband Stan of Portland; niece Katie Horton of Beaverton; and nephew Kyle Horton of Portland. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the South Pacific CountyHumane Society, P.O. Box 101, Long Beach, Wash. 98631. Straub's Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation in Camas is in charge of the arrangements. To send condolences or to sign the online guestbook please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.