Laurel Barrett

Laurel Beth (Hendrickson) Barrett went Home to Glory to spend the rest of eternity with God the Father, Jesus Christ her personal Savior, and the Holy Spirit on January 17, 2010. She was 45 years old. Laurel was born on May 6, 1964 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her parents are Virgil D. Hendrickson and Gloria (Grigartis) Mulhearn (Mike) who will miss her very much. She grew up in Paw Paw, Michigan where she enjoyed an active childhood with her brothers Bruce (Penny) Hendrickson and Troy Hendrickson who will also miss her. Laurel (Laurie to her childhood friends) had a paper route in town, played clarinet, and was a member of the flag team in high school. The family took many camping trips with friends over the years. Covey Hill Baptist (Gobles, MI) was the church in which she grew up and was grounded in her faith. She asked Jesus to be her Savior at a young age, settling her eternal destiny. She attended Paw Paw Public Schools until graduation in 1982. She played basketball, was involved in concert and marching band, and attended the Van Buren County Vo-Tech studying to be a nurse's aide. She very much enjoyed being a member of the Van Buren County Folk Dancers. After graduation, she attended Southwestern Michigan College and Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Cornerstone University). She served several employers over the years but the job she loved the most was doing daycare in her home. She had a deep passion for children. She was married to Pete Barrett (surviving) on October 26th, 1985 after dating for a year and a year-long engagement. They resided until her death in Kalamazoo. She gave birth to Collin Michael Barrett (surviving), at which time her cancer was discovered. She was very proud of Collin and sacrificed greatly for his benefit. Her greatest goal was to see him graduate from high school, which she did, and was proud to see him go off to college, but most proud to witness his faithfulness to our Great God, a relationship she constantly nurtured. For the next twenty years she battled the disease, enduring many surgeries, treatments, tests, and immeasurable pain all with a smile and the question, "How are YOU doing?" She was the catalyst for many fond family memories and was never short of ideas about where the family should travel to next or some nearby activity they should try. Laurel had an undying passion for relationships. If you were her friend, you were her close friend. She talked to both her parents nearly every day. She will certainly be missed by them. Her two brothers were very close, and she was always concerned for how they were doing. She enjoyed scrapbooking, quilting, crocheting, making jewelry, and she was always looking for the next new craft to try. In addition to Covey Hill, Laurel was a member of both Westwood Baptist Church and Berean Baptist Church, where she loved ministering to girls through the Heartlife ministry. She leaves behind many fellow servants of Christ, knowing that we will all worship at His throne together one day. Preceding Laurel in death are her grandparents Howard and Flossie Hendrickson, Harvey and Ethel Allman, an uncle John Hendrickson, a special nephew Alex Hendrickson, and a special sister-in-law Vanessa Barrett. She is survived by her husband and son; her parents; two brothers; a sister-in-law, Penny; a nephew Dennis; a niece Mikeala; a special cousin Pat (Bill) Webb, and numerous aunts; uncles; cousins; nieces; nephews and great-nieces and nephews, all of whom held a special place in her heart. Visitation will be at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street, on Tuesday from 2-5 PM and Wednesday from 5-8 PM. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 o'clock Thursday at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Rd, Kalamazoo, MI. Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Mattawan. Donations in lieu of flowers can be designated to one of the following: Berean Baptist Church Heartlife ministry or Hospice of Southwest Michigan.