February 17, 1947 - September 25, 2016

Laura enriched the lives of all she touched with her laughter, joy filled faith

In Seattle, 1947, Steadman and Millicent Dickson blessed the world with the birth of their daughter Laura Charlene Dickson.

Anyone who would ever know Laura was blessed to see the true spirit of a kind and giving person.  She gave unconditionally.  She shared with anyone.  She shared with complete strangers. 

When talking of her youth, family was always a topic that brought a great smile to her face.  

She was raised with her brother Frank, and lived with their parents in the Shoreline area through her entire youth.

Growing up she spent time in the kitchen cooking with her mother.  Laura was very fond of her parents and they shared a close relationship.

Her brother Frank was her best friend to the end.  She always spoke highly of him and they shared a deep mutual respect.  Entering Shoreline High School in 1961 he left her with some extremely large shoes to fill.  Always up to the challenge, Laura graduated from Shoreline in 1965 at the top of her class.

As a family they would go camping and fishing at Diablo Lake and Lake Roosevelt. They enjoyed family trips to Canada as well.  Laura told stories of sledding in the snow and hanging out with many friends.  Laura loved working with her mother and Frank when she worked at the famous Windjammer restaurant in Ballard

Time spent with her family was full of smiles, laughter and love.

Laura married David Nicol in 1966 in Hawaii.  A grand wedding reception followed at…of course… the Windjammer.

In the 60’s and 70’s Laura enjoyed going to the foreign stock car races with Dave and their dear friend Jim.  Laura, Dave and Jim were called the three amigos. They were inseparable.

They had lots of great adventures with racing friends and family.   Racing became a passion for both Laura and Dave, a passion that was passed down to their children and remains strong in the family today.

Laura and Dave began their life opening a few businesses; a machine shop here or there, a real estate office or two. Even a 76 gas station on 128th street in South Everett. 

Laura and Dave owned and operated the California Tavern in Marysville for ten years in the 70’and early 80’s.  Always open minded for any opportunity, they purchased a commercial building in Snohomish which operated a Real Estate company, machine shop, welding company, auto body shop and a car lot.

Laura and Dave thrived on building and selling successful businesses.

As these businesses grew so did their family.  They had four beautiful daughters; Michelle, Charlene, Cheri, and baby Christine.   And eventually eight grandchildren – Amanda, David, Aaron, Austen, Doug, Megan, Kevin and Alissa.

 Throughout Laura’s life her children (and grandchildren) were her first priority and she loved each and every one with all her heart.  Even with all the business stuff going on, Laura never held her girls back from doing anything they dreamed up.  They kept and showed horses.  Played basketball, soccer and baseball.  Raced go-carts and mini sprints.  There was PTA, Bluebirds, Brownies; you name it.  Laura was there for all of it.  She somehow found time to stay involved in a lot of charities too.  One of her charities helped the elderly and another helped women and children in need near Everett. 

Laura enjoyed camping with her family.  She would take all four kids loaded up in her LTD with a trailer attached and head to Leavenworth for some camping and fishing.  Camping at Lake Wenatchee State Park with close family friends was another favorite.  She even took her kids on a trip to the Grand Canyon, including the hot springs and Yellow Stone with ten other families.

Laura loved spending time with her kids through all their adventures.

She continued her passion for adventure later in life traveling with her family and grandchildren.

She took a family vacation in November of 2015 to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun with her family and close friends. She went zip lining, rode in a dune buggy, hung out in the pool, did some sun bathing and enjoyed endless wonderful meals.

She recently went to Las Vegas where she got to meet the magician Criss Angel after one of his shows.  Celine Dion from ten rows back, Kenney Chesney, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill from 12 rows back.  (Her daughter Cheri spoiled her mom with these fabulous concerts)

Laura loved concerts and the Vegas show scene.

Later in life, her passion became real estate and helping people buy their dream homes. She was admired for her vast knowledge and unparalleled expertise.  Her clients were often surprised by her willingness to go above and beyond.  Whether it was going into detail about the favorite restaurants and tourist stops to someone who had just moved to the area or loaning out a trailer to make it easier for someone to move, Laura put the needs of others first.  That is her legacy.

Committed to her community, Laura continued to remain involved with charities in Stanwood and Camano Island.  While working with Remax Associated Brokers for the last 5 years, she embedded herself in fundraising events to support the Safe Harbor Free Clinic in Stanwood. Those charity events included Ladies Night Out and the Camano Island Crab derby.  The annual Chili Cook Off was another favorite fundraiser supporting the Camano Center.  Laura and her partner Kimberly sure had a hoot cooking big pots of chili to help in the fundraising. They also provided special programs to help people in need with the costs of buying their home.  They started a program called “Homes for Heroes,” focused to help those who have served our country thru military service, education, healthcare and more.  They would reduce their commissions to show their appreciation for the people behind the scenes that are the heartbeat of our communities.

Now don’t take all this giving nature to mean she was a softie in business.  She knew her stuff and was extremely professional in her business dealings.  She was flat out feisty.  She would not tolerate people trying to pull the wool over her eyes.  If you ever found yourself on the other side of the table, she would hold your feet to the fire until you did your job correctly and had no shame in demanding nothing but the best for her clients.

If we remember anything about the last 10 years of Laura’s life, lets remember her willingness to give, without condition.  She’d give her time.  She’d donate her earnings.  She’d send care packages to people.  She’d loan out her trailer for people to move ….the list is endless. She never expected anything in return. She treated people as if they were her own family and she loved to put smiles on people’s faces.

And please let us remember her amazing laugh.  I’m sure most of us heard it at one point or another.  I’m sure none of us can keep from smiling at the thought of her contagious, and sometime uncontrollable, laughter.  Please may we all keep that memory forever.

Laura enriched the lives of all she touched with her laughter, joy filled faith and hope.  Joy and a life of gratitude is how a person makes a notable difference in the lives of others. Laura would love to leave everyone with a note to Hope in the Lord and to live a life of gratitude. She always showed gratitude in her life for her family, and for the time spent with family, friends, and all those she encountered along the way.

May you experience love and hope in your life as Laura did.  She had a courageous and dazzling heart of Gold.  Be strong and courageous in your life. Thank you for courageous people like Laura who help others realize their dreams.  Help us to be the kind of person who inspires other as well.

Memorial

Love Lives On

Those we love remain with us,

for Love itself lives on.
Cherished memories never fade;
because one loved is gone.

Those we love can never be
more than a thought apart,
for as long as there's a memory
they live on in our heart.
Think of her as living
in the hearts of those she touched,
for nothing loved is ever lost,
and she was loved so much.

Author Unknown

Mom Lived Her Life for Love of Friends and Family

Mom lived her life for love of friends and family,
Neither asking for nor wanting a return.
Her days became a sunlit homily,
With others' joy her joy and main concern.
When we were ill, she also became sick;
When we were cut, she, too, began to bleed.
Of our oil lamp she was the wick,
Drawing her bright flame from our need.
Some say that such behavior's out of date:
That self-fulfillment is the way to grace.
But Mom, without much choice, then chose her fate,
Finding greater truth in an embrace.
She lives on in the sparkle in our eyes:
Laughing, quiet, gentle, loving, wise.

Author Unknown