Laura Jane (McMillan) Claunch

Laura Jane was born on November 21, 1937, in Oakland, California, to William Herschel Benton McMillin and Mary Edith McMillin. She was a miracle baby, as her mother had been told shortly after her son, Albert Wayne, had died, Mary Edith could have no more children. Laura Jane lived with her parents in the Golden State until she was six years old. At that time, her father, a bus driver for Continental Trailways, was reassigned to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and he moved his small family to their home on Hermosa Street. Although she was affectionately referred to as Jane, when she played, she was always "Tarzan." In her many adventures, she would enlist her three life-long friends, Betty Nell, Cynthia, and Mary Jo, to travel in her imaginary world discovering new and exciting exploits in an effort to save it.

Laura Jane frequently mentioned her most favorite time of life was as a teenager attending Highland High School and her beloved church, Fruit Avenue Baptist. It was during this time period she expanded her circle of friends through various social and religious organizations and was influenced by her favorite accounting teacher, Arnold Blech, to pursue a career in academics. With his encouragement and through her studious hard work Laura Jane was awarded a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of New Mexico (UNM) majoring in business subjects.

While attending UNM, Laura Jane met Joe Ed Claunch. Joe Ed was from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He was reared in an agrarian household but conversely pursued a career in pharmacy. Laura Jane expressed she fell in love with Joe Ed as he was different from any boy she had ever dated and never could "quite figure him out." Married on December 27, 1960, they moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico, and welcomed their first child, Renee, in 1963. In 1965, they moved back to Albuquerque and added Cindy, Todd, and Scott to their family. Although they had an abiding love for each other and their children, Joe Ed unexpectedly passed away on October 29, 1978.

As a young widow at forty years of age, Laura Jane taught her children not only to survive but to thrive. She worked three teaching positions to ensure they would continue in the same standard of life they were accustomed. Although Laura Jane would frequently bring her papers to grade, her avid support of her children's extra-curricular activities and academic achievements were undeniable. Laura Jane, rarely, if ever missed a single event. While her children may have never fully understood the sacrifices she made, through her courage and undying love Laura Jane became the wind under their wings to become professionals in government, pharmacy, education, and business. Laura Jane would also frequently remark to her family and friends Cindy and Scott, gave her four of the greatest gifts she would ever receive--her daughter-in-law Christel and her grandchildren Aisling, Sydni, and Camryn.

While her family was the heart of everything she accomplished, her students were the soul of her endeavors professionally. To her students, Laura Jane was known as Ms. Claunch, but those who know her best observed her deep affection for them could be more accurately characterized as maternal. Ms. Claunch always endeavored to provide the instruction needed to accomplish the business subjects each of her students elected, but it was not uncommon for Laura Jane to furnish a ride home to a student's residence, a pair of dress shoes for a competition, or a monthly cake to celebrate a birthday or an academic achievement. From her actions to those she was entrusted to teach, an observer of her professional life could surmise her career was chosen for her by a Father who infrequently allows the sharing of the title "good teacher."

A saying over an office door post reflected the sentiment, "People who enter this office often bring joy. Few when they enter, most when they leave." Unlike the doorpost, however, for those fortunate enough to have had the opportunity for Laura Jane Claunch to enter the mantle of their lives, they not only experienced the joy she brought to them while she was living, but they were gifted with the legacy of love she left them on September 9, 2022, to start her next adventure in her heavenly home.

Laura Jane Claunch's life and legacy will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Monday, September 19, 2022. You are cordially invited to join her family at FRENCH-Wyoming. If you are unable to physically attend, you may access the service through the link provided. Interment will follow the service at 3:15 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd., N.E., Albuquerque, NM.