Laura Carlson

(From Brenner Mortuary)

Laura Carlson, 87, of Pittsburg, Kansas died February 28, 2019 at Medicalodges of Pittsburg following a brief illness.

She was born October 9, 1931 at Hubbard, Oregon to William and Dorothy Evers Bond.

She married Paul Carlson in 1957. He survives of the home.

Laura was a charter member of Western Mennonite Academy, worked as a dental assistant while taking high school courses and attended other parochial schools in California and Pennsylvania. In 1954 she graduated from Case-Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing with a BS in Nursing. She held various staff and administrative positions in Community Health, Obstetric, and Medical-Surgical nursing. Perhaps the most fulfilling of those positions was that of Director of Nursing at the City Hospital in Springfield, Mo from 1958-1962 where she started immunization and family planning clinics.

In 1971 she was the first faculty person hired in the new PSU Department of Nursing. She earned her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from KU in 1976. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, and belonged to other state and national nursing organizations and served on mental health and Safehouse boards of directors. She resigned from teaching in 1987 to manage the fledging family planning clinic for four successful years.

In 1992 she was a charter member of the Stillwell Heritage and Educational Foundation and it’s first chair person. She received the Spirit of Pittsburg Award in 1992 for her volunteer work to save the Hotel Stillwell and other activities in women’s health care.

It was the publicity related to the Stillwell Hotel for which she became well known in the community. The grand opening of the rehabilitated Hotel Stillwell on May 12, 1997 was perhaps her highest achievement in community service. In 2012 she assisted Kathleen De Grave in publishing “The Hotel Stillwell: A Tale of Mortar, Money, and Memories.” She continued as the executive director until June 1, 2012.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Crusader’s class of that church, the AARP, the Retired School Personnel of Pittsburg, and a founding member of the Southeast Kansas Interfaith Alliance.

In addition to her husband Paul, she is survived by one son, Dr. Mark Carlson and his wife Jessica of Pittsburg, one daughter, Denise Biggs of Manhattan, Kansas, and five grandchildren. The grandchildren are Megan, Chris, and Marissa Carlson, Benjamin Biggs, and Paxton Listwan. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, James, Charles, George, and Ira Bond, and six sisters, Nancy Glick, Cora Bitikofer, Mary Bond, Ella Miller, Alice Hartline, and Frances Martin.








A Memorial Service will be Saturday March 9, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.at the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburg with Reverend Mark Chambers officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the start of the service at the church. Laura's wishes were for memorials to be given to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund and/or the Stillwell Foundation. These may be left at the church or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. or share information at www.caringbridge.org/visit/lauracarlson and invite those who wish to share memories or condolences on the site as well. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.