Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Erie Christian Church, Erie, IL. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the Church. Burial will be in the Erie Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Erie Public Library, Erie Christian Church or the Erie Ambulance. Gibson – Bode Funeral Home, Erie, is directing services.
Laurel was born August 31, 1939, in Tampico, IL, the daughter of Frank and Audrey (Anderson) Thomas. She graduated as co-valedictorian from Tampico High School in 1957 and went on to study Library Science at Sauk Valley Community College. Laurel was united in marriage to Larry D. Reiss on September 4, 1957, in Mt. Pulaski, IL. They spent their first years in Cordova, IL, until moving to Erie where Laurel was involved with the Erie Library for 60 years. She began her librarian journey as a volunteer in 1965 soon becoming Head Librarian and finished her career as Library Director.
Laurel loved her work for the library. She also served her community as an EMT on the Erie Ambulance for 20 years. Laurel was a longtime member of the Erie Christian Church, where she taught Sunday School and was active in many ministries. She enjoyed being a farm wife and caring for the many farm cats over the years. She also was known for nursing numerous wild animals back to health that had been injured.
She is survived by her husband, Larry Reiss, Erie; 3 children, James (Pamela) Reiss, Callawassie Island, SC, Lucinda D. Reiss, Erie, Charles (Joni) Reiss, Hillsdale, IL; 5 grandchildren, Melissa (Ethan) Blank, Madison (Daniel) Dunham, Colby Reiss, Lexi Reiss, Parker Reiss; and 5 great grandchildren, Miles, Monroe and Ellis Dunham and Aspen and Ember Blank. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Lavonne in infancy, and sister, Leone Newman.
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One Response
I remember Laurel well. We lived across the street from the Thomas family in Tampico. My sincere sympathy to her family.