Barbara Marie Laing, 66, life-long resident of Orlando, FL, passed from this world into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 21, 2017. She was born on May 24, 1951 at Florida Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her mother Mildred Ferrell Laing and father William Myles Laing. She is survived by one brother, William Mitchell Laing of Jacksonville, FL and her sister Sandra Laing Bennett of Lake Butler, FL. She was a loving Aunt of two nephews, William Rell Bennet of Trenton, FL and Richard Timothy Bennett of Mukiteo, WA. Her namesake niece, Barbara Ann Cribbs, resides in Lake Butler.
Known to friends and family as Marie, she met her life partner Ronald D. Warfield in college. After each retired, they developed a "bucket list" and began travel to venues throughout the United States. However, for the last six months of life, with Ron at her side, she fought a very aggressive and formidable cancer. She was a courageous warrior, very brave and an inspiration to family, colleagues and her many friends
Marie graduated from Florida Technological University (UCF) with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. She began her career in the Seminole District Schools as an elementary level teacher specializing in first grade education. She was an amazing teacher and loved every child that ever entered her classroom. By the end she had taught forty years, the last thirty at Keeth Elementary in the Tuscawilla area of Winter Springs, FL. Following retirement, she remained engaged with former and active educators in social activities.
Before and after retirement, Marie & Ron traveled extensively throughout the United States. He to pursue demands of his court software and consulting business and she - when not in the classroom - supporting his efforts. Marie took pride in staying physically fit and maintaining a proper diet. She enjoyed cooking healthy satisfying meals and enjoyed pairing them with fine wine. As a UCF alumnus, she supported her alma mater's athletic teams. She was especially a fan of baseball and rarely missed a Knights home game.
Her life partner Ron Warfield will receive family, colleagues and friends for a memorial service in the chapel at DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland, FL on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. A meet and greet pre-gathering will begin at 11:30 AM. A Christian service will begin at Noon to 1:00 PM. Thereafter, a gathering for family and friends will be held upstairs in the community room at 1:30 PM.
Those who may wish to honor Marie's memory may donate to a children's charity. She had many including the Shriner's Hospital for Children and Boys Town.
Dr. Daniel J. Wolf, Vitas Hospice Team Chaplin, will officiate