Laurel Diane (Haury) Van Ruitenbeek

Laurel Diane (Haury) Van Ruitenbeek, daughter of Herman and Margaret Haury, was born in Thomas, Oklahoma, on September 22, 1956. Laurel attended school in Putnam and Taloga, Oklahoma, and graduated as valedictorian of her high school class. Laurel went on to attend West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas, and received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Laurel joined the U.S. Navy as a nurse. While stationed at the naval hospital in Oakland, California, Laurel met Coast Guard officer A.J. Van Ruitenbeek. A.J. and Laurel got married on June 21, 1980, in Corn, Oklahoma.

Laurel and A.J. moved cross-country several times due to A.J.’s Coast Guard assignments, living in Virginia, California, Missouri, and Virginia again, before relocating to Plano, Texas, where she resided from 1997 until her passing.

Laurel was a loving, stay-at-home mom to her four children. She was a faithful member of her church, serving in the church nursery and attending Bible studies.

After raising four children and seeing her youngest off to college, Laurel renewed her Registered Nurse (RN) license. For 13 years Laurel was a substitute school nurse for Plano ISD. She also loved spending time with her three grandkids in Oregon, reading to them, and doing sewing projects with them.

Laurel enjoyed sewing clothes and crocheting blankets for her family. She cared for a wide variety of houseplants and would often share plants with family, friends, and teachers at the schools where she worked.

Laurel passed away May 29, 2025, in Plano, Texas, and is survived by her husband A.J. Van Ruitenbeek; her children Elizabeth (Michael) LeMay, Benjamin Van Ruitenbeek, Timothy (Kim) Van Ruitenbeek, and Philip Van Ruitenbeek; her grandchildren James, Anna, and Julia LeMay; and her siblings Gerald (Melanie) Haury, Stuart (Denise) Haury, Rose Haury, and Mark Haury.

There will be funeral service to celebrate Laurel’s life at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Hunters Glen Baptist Church.

She will be laid to rest in Putnam, Oklahoma.