Laurie Lyn (Williams) VanZandt, beloved mother, daughter, sister, cousin, niece and friend, born July 2, 1964 in St. Louis, Mo. passed away July 15, 2014 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.

Laurie was an outgoing person who loved her family and friends and lived life to the fullest. She overcame many obstacles in life and fought a courageous battle for 5 weeks attempting to recover from open heart surgery. She celebrated her 50th birthday in the hospital. In the end God called her home to rest in peace. She will be sorely missed by many.

Laurie is survived by her son, Andy VanZandt of Edwardsville, Ill.; her mother, Beverly Williams of Glen Carbon, Ill.; and her father, Dennis Williams and his wife, Chris of Conway, Ark. She is also survived by her sister, Kathie (Williams) Forbes of Boise, Ida. and nephews, Dylan Miller who is Laurie's God Son, Ryan Miller and Lucas Forbes all of Boise, Ida. and her only niece, Alexa Forbes of Boise, Ida.; sister, Elizabeth Williams of Conway, Ark.; her cousin and best friend, Tammy Fuller and her husband, Paul of Edwardsville, Ill. and their children, Spencer Fuller who is Laurie's God Son and Siena Fuller; Aunt Barbara Fanter of Glen Carbon, Ill.; Aunt Edna Quintas of St. Louis, Mo.; her cousins: Tim Fanter and his wife Jin Hae and their children Tiffany, Aimee and Crystal, Dan Fanter and his wife Teena, Mike Quintas, Thom Quintas and his wife Tiffany and their children Tony and Trent, Terri Kelly and her husband Wally and their children Andrew, Brianna, Caitlin, Daniel, Evelyn, Franklin, and Hosanna. Laurie was preceded in death by Terri and Wally's son, Gabriel, Uncle Allan Fanter, Uncle Tony Quintas and grandparents, Woodard and Hazel Williams, and Henry and Elinor Fritz.

Laurie was a single mother who raised her son Andy on her own since infancy. She was completely dedicated to her son and very proud of him. She loved being with family and friends, taking her son on vacation, beaches, reading, the color purple, shoes, seals, the Denver Broncos, Pepsi, and eating Taco Bell. Laurie was employed at Hortica Insurance in Edwardsville, Ill. where she worked for almost 15 years.

Memorial donations may be made to an educational fund being established for her son, Andy. Condolences can be expressed to the family online at www.sunsethillcemetery.com.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Sunset Hill Funeral Home, Glen Carbon, Ill. Inurnment will be at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates, Glen Carbon, Ill.