Laura Marie (Simonik) Ramirez
Marriages
Peter Simonik
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 10B - March 5, 2023
Laura Marie (Simonik)
Ramirez, born June 19,
1963, passed away on
Friday, February 24, 2023.
She was 59 years old. A
well-known preschool teacher and early childhood
advocate in the Vail Valley and later, in Grand Junction,
Laura worked as a teacher for 17 years at the Learning
Tree before starting her own preschool at her home on
Nottingham Lake in Avon. After moving to Grand
Junction in 2010, Laura taught at Creative Avenues.
Laura’s personal and professional life often overlapped
with those who she worked with and nurtured. As a
caregiver, she was compassionate and loving. She
validated all children’s self-worth, leaving them feeling
important and empowered. Laura had a God given
gift that allowed her to connect with children and their
families. But more than anything, Laura truly enjoyed
children: their essence, their being, their worth! She
found such delight and humor in the comments and
actions of the children she taught. A typical end-of-the-
day snap-shot at work would have been of her giggling
as she shared an amusing story about what a child said
or did that day to the most captive of audiences- the
child’s parents or teacher- and, at the punch line, all
would break out in laughter! Her enjoyment of children
was infectious- winning not only an opportunity for
parents to laugh and enjoy their child with another
human being who cared about their child as much as
they did, but also winning their love and devotion. As
an educator, Laura took the steps necessary to advance
in her childhood education career and contributed
her teaching skills, creativity and dedication with her
colleagues and students. If you and/or your child were
lucky enough to be a recipient of Laura’s love and
generosity of time and spirit, you can consider yourself
and your children blessed in the most bountiful way!
She will dearly be missed.
Laura was born in Duarte, California and grew up in
the Grand Junction, CO. After high school, she moved
to Avon, CO where she met Peter Simonik, her husband
of many years. During their marriage, they cared for
their two precious dogs, Gus and Gracie, and purchased
and grew West Vail Conoco Garage. During those
years, they spent many summers on their boat with
friends in Lake Powell, enjoying one of Laura’s favorite
activities: basking in the sun. She was a lover of the sun
and she was a lover of water. In 2010, Laura returned
to the home of her youth, spending time with her family
and her dear Father and Aunt Mary, whom she adored.
In Grand Junction, Laura was also gifted with a dog
named Tony who was her constant companion.
For those she loved, Laura could be fiercely protective,
determined and tough. Never one to shy away from
conflict when she observed an injustice or any kind of
cruelty, in her sphere of life, Laura was a champion for
justice. As a passionate animal lover, she was often
referred to as the person the American Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) could
always count on to foster any dog in need.
And finally, a loyal friend and FUNNY was she!
Laura was the friend you could always count on to be
there in a moment’s notice, dropping everything to be
there by your side to offer support- or stick it to the
bus driver who told you that you couldn’t ride the bus!
Funny, empathic, kind, and street wise... And always.
Always. There.
Laura is survived by her father Paul Ramirez and
her Aunt Mary Martinez, her sisters Carol Gordon
(husband Dave), Janet Walker, (husband Jack), Leslie
Ramirez, Paula Harmer (husband Mike), and Pat
Morton Her brother Richard (Rick) Pettigrew Jr (wife
Ofelia), Her nieces Amber, Janaya, Diane and Vicki
Lyn, her nephews Paul, Mark and Dale, , ... and Tony.
She was predeceased by her mother, Jean Marie
Krieger, Gus and Gracie.
Family and Friends of Laura are welcome to bid a
final farewell which will be held on Friday, March 10th,
2023 at 1:00 pm at Brown’s Funeral Service located at
904 N. 7th Street, Grand Junction. A burial at Orchard
Mesa Cemetery located at 2620 Legacy Way will
follow. And then, there will be a CELEBRATION OF
LAURA’S LIFE at the Eagles Lodge No. 595 located at
1674 US-50 W, grand Junction, CO 81503.
If you would like to contribute towards Laura’s final
farewell ceremony, burial, celebration of Life, and
memorial or share a story about Laura please go to
https://gofund.me/457e946f .
For more information about Laura’s life and Farewell
Events, go to Brown’s Cremation & Funeral Service –
Grand Junction, CO (brownscremationservice.com)
