Marie Laswell Abell

Marie “Ree” Laswell Abell passed away Friday, December 8, 2023, at the age of 97, at the Heartford House. Born in Owensboro, she was one of eight children of the late Lewis Edward and Josephine Blair Wood. She was a member of First Christian Church.

She married Bob Laswell in 1949, and they enjoyed 34 wonderful years together as a loving family until his death in 1983. In 1987, she married James Edward “Jim Ed” Abell. They were happily married until his death in 2005. Her seven brothers and sisters also preceded her in death.

Ree loved to write. An avid journaler, she filled countless volumes with her experiences, thoughts, and insights. At 83, Ree put pen to paper and composed her memoir, leaving a treasured legacy for her family to hold dear. She took delight in corresponding with family and friends and kept every card she received. Her other interests were gardening, baking, and doing floral arrangements. She later enjoyed her association with the Bakers Rack, where she worked for many years.

She cherished time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed making their birthdays and Christmases special with surprises and beautifully wrapped presents. You could always pick out a gift from Ree.

Those who remain to honor her memory include her children, Larkin Hayden (Carroll) of Owensboro, John Laswell (Sarah) of Louisville and Ann Fiorella (Andy) of Owensboro; her stepdaughters Julie Abell Dexter (Mark) and Jamie Abell Stewart (Richard); her grandchildren Blake Hayden (Missie), Brooke Petrofsky (Mike), Robert Laswell (Grace), Abby Laswell, Ashley Harper (James) and Andy Fiorella (Elizabeth); her step-grandchildren Kristen Gibson (Marty), Katie Pacetti (Rich), Stephen Dexter (Stacey), Laura Paul (Jeff), Ben Stewart and Alex Stewart (Tre Brown); 9 great-grandchildren and 9 step-great-grandchildren.

We would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff at Cedarhurst and Heartford House for their excellent care and compassion. We would also like to thank her friends and family who took time to visit her. It meant everything to her.

The funeral service for Marie Laswell Abell, officiated by Rev. Chris Michael, will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 14, at First Christian Church. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, at Glenn Funeral Homes and Crematory, and from 10:00 until 11:00 Thursday at First Christian Church. Entombment will follow at Owensboro Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the First Christian Church Legacy Fund or Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky.

Memories and messages for the family of Marie “Ree” Laswell Abell may be shared at www.glenncares.com.