Laura Ruth Jacobs

Laura Jacobs, 88, passed into the loving arms of her faithful Savior in the early morning on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, with her family by her side.  

She was born May 10, 1933, in Harrah, Oklahoma to Robert and Erma Miller.  Laura was brought into the world by her grandmother who was an experienced midwife. In December 1941, shortly after the Pearl Harbor bombing, Robert and Erma loaded Laura and her two sisters into their ‘39 Chevy and moved to Seattle. The family settled on the Hood Canal in Belfair. Many memories were made at their home on the shore. For two summers, Laura handled daily household duties and care of her sisters, Rachel and Roberta, as her father worked in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and her mother finished her teaching degree at Pacific Lutheran University. The family attended Bremerton Nazarene Church. 

Laura graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1950, two years ahead of her classmates.   She earned a four-year scholarship from Northwest Nazarene College. While attending her church youth group, she met fellow student, John Henry Jacobs. After dating for several years, they married on June 12, 1953, at Bremerton Nazarene Church and established their home in Bremerton. They shared 60 years of life.

In 1960, John accepted a call to ministry and became ordained in the Church of the Nazarene. Laura served alongside her husband in pastoral ministry from Idaho to Washington for 45 years. John and Laura also led several tours to the Holy Land.

Laura was a mother to four children: Cindy, Robert, Nancy, and Melinda.  Laura worked for 26 years at American Can Company/James River Corp. as a bookkeeper until the closure of the company in 1990. She then went on to work at Sunnyside Community Hospital until she retired in 2008.

Laura was an expert seamstress, baker, and cook. Whenever John or the kids didn’t like something she made, she set to work perfecting the recipe or never made it again. That way she could say that there wasn’t anything that John or the kids didn’t like!  

Laura had a lifetime love of reading—from cookbooks to novels to the New York Times. The Sunnyside librarians had a hard time keeping the shelves stocked with something new that Laura had not yet read. She looked forward to solving the New YorkTimes Sunday crossword. She was the epitome of a lifelong learner as was evident with her expansive knowledge on many subjects. She could diagnose most family members' ailments by consulting her Physician’s Desk Reference and using her recall of Latin.  Laura enjoyed music across several genres. She was a skilled accordionist and pianist.  Laura was awarded the championship for her division in the Northwest Accordion Society when she was in the 8th grade.  She went on to earn several more accordion awards through high school and beyond.

The family enjoyed countless gatherings, birthdays, and holidays. They even celebrated Groundhog Day just for a reason to gather. Any occasion to share a meal and connect was reason enough to have a party. Laura enjoyed family barbecues, playing pinochle, Rook, knowledge and word games, and Saturday morning family breakfasts at local restaurants. The times spent as a family on John and Laura’s deck will be fondly remembered.

A beloved grandmother, Laura deeply loved every grandchild and their spouses and each of her ‘above average’ great-grandchildren. She is remembered for her loving nature and her occasional, endearing stubbornness. “She doted on us. We couldn’t spend a minute with her without her telling us how much she loved us, how beautiful or handsome she thought we were, and how proud she was to be our grandmother. We took care of her, and she took care of us with adoring words, back rubs, and ready hugs.”

Laura will be remembered as a kind, welcoming woman who loved her family and friends deeply.  Her spirit of servanthood has impacted countless lives. She was a kind and caring person to everyone, including strangers.

Laura is survived by children Cindy and Craig McDonald, Robert and Kathy Jacobs, and Nancy Hazzard; grandchildren Amanda and Tanner Tobin, Corey and Noelle Jacobs, Harrison and Annie Jacobs, Jennifer and Sam Ramos, Sarah and David Clark, Jacob and Amber Hazzard, Ashley Kilian; step-grandchildren Alex and Andrew Tocco; great-grandchildren Calla and Zaiden Tobin, David, Anthony, and Samantha Ramos, Brenton Littleton, Taylor, Cooper, and Brody Hazzard, Michael and Andrew Kilian, sister Roberta and Curt Vieselmeyer; sister-in-laws Barbara Haynes and Lynette Jacobs; several nieces and nephews; faithful friends Bobbi Hazzard and Audrey Edes; former son-in-law Randy Boast and daughter-in-law Sindi Landman.

Preceding Laura in death are her husband John, her parents, her daughter Melinda Kilian, her grandson Andrew Kilian, sons-in-law Davey Hazzard and Mike Kilian, her sister and brother-in-law Rachel and Richard Dyrness; brother-in-law Orval Halley; and several of John’s family members.

The family appreciates the wonderful care and comfort that was given to Laura at Sunnyside Assisted Living, Prestige Care and Rehabilitation, Astria Sunnyside Hospital, and Heartlinks Hospice and Palliative Care for Laura.  Their gentleness was evident with each caring touch and communication with mom.

Celebration of Laura’s life will be held on October 9, 2021, at Grandview Nazarene Church 500 N. Elm St. Grandview, WA 98930 at 1 pm.  Memorials may be made to Heartlinks Hospice and Palliative Care, 3920 Outlook Rd. Sunnyside, WA 98944     Mom, you ran the race set out before you. You are now resting in the arms of our loving Heavenly Father….You finished well.

“The only scars in heaven, they won't belong to me and you There'll be no such thing as broken, and all the old will be made new And the thought that makes me smile now, even as the tears fall down Is that the only scars in heaven are on the Hands that hold you now.”

    By Casting Crowns

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