Laura Bell (Freeman) Mefford, 83, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 10:41 a.m. on October 19, 2024, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon.
She was born April 3, 1941, in Eureka, California to the late Elmer and Iola (Rhodes) Freeman. Laura married Lennon “Bee Tree” Ray Mefford on December 18, 1962, in Reno, Nevada. They were blessed with sixty-one years of marriage before he preceded her in death on December 20, 2023.
Laura is survived by her sister, Marian Corderio of Fortuna, California; sisters-in-law, Barbara Powers of Belleville, Illinois, and Pauline Hamilton of Irvington, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Laura was preceded in death by her siblings, Allen Freeman, and Ila Murphy, and siblings-in-law, Bonita Ayers, Ima Chwascinski, Paul Murphy, Landon Powers, Sterling Hamilton, and Eddie Corderio.
Laura enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling. She dabbled in ceramics and was of the Baptist Faith.
A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens Chapel in Woodlawn, Illinois with Brother Craig Smith officiating. Interment will follow. Memorials may be made in Laura’s honor to the Irvington Firefighter Association.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
