Obituary of Thomas R Laws

 Thomas Richard Laws was born on March 22,1939 in Burlington, Kansas to Vesta Mozingo Laws and Floyd Elmer Laws, a teacher and a carpenter who raised their two children on a small farm.
Tom grew up with a thirst for knowledge, always wondering who and what was out there. He read and thought about the world his entire life. Tom’s family attended a Methodist church and his education lead him to the University of Kansas and then east to Union Theological Seminary eventually pursuing ordination as an Episcopal priest. Work in urban community service and Human Resources and benefits followed, and his ministry in the church continued. Tom nurtured a range of interests and skills spanning classical music, fine art, memoir writing, current events, cooking, travel, the beach, sports and sports radio. A church home and friend group at St. Luke’s Church took root providing more than forty years of purpose, meaning and joy. But there was no greater love than Tom’s delight in his children and grandchildren and his wife, Oneida. He thought of them, their choices, challenges and happiness as much as or more than his own until his very last days.
“Nothing exceeds the pleasure of touching someone you love,” he said in July 2024. After the early separations of living many miles from where he’d begun his life and those imposed recently by COVID and illness, Tom treasured visits and calls and was the absolute best at mailing perfectly-timed birthday and occasion cards. FaceTime chats helped close the gap and Tom’s final smiles were for his grandchildren, in whose futures he was deeply invested. They ripple on for him.
Tom died at home on July 26, 2024 after three days of loving family vigil. He is survived by his wife, Oneida Mendez Laws, daughters Adrienne (Gregory MacDonald) and Amanda, son Christopher (Katharine LiVolsi) and grandchildren Walt (Jilly), Malcolm, Reece, Felix, Bowen and James. Sister Sara and her children Jennifer, Ronnie, David and Marcie, sister-in-law Mila, nephews Jordan and Will and their families. His parents and parents-in-law, Maria and Romilio, preceded him in death.
Donations may be made in Tom’s honor to provide food and health services in the Montclair community to Toni’s Kitchen: https://4agc.com/donation_pages/057d0c3a-22c0-4e3c-b1fa-0c33e1da1b3a