Mrs. Laura Bell Gillett, 89, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Monday, April 28, 2025. She was born January 24, 1936, in Central City, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Eck G. and Helen (Miles) Neal.
She was first married to John Sapp and later divorced. She was later united in marriage to David Gillett; he preceded her in death in 2014.
Laura was a 1954 graduate of Breman High School. After moving to Indiana, she worked at Allison Division of General Motors on the assembly line for 15 years. She also waitressed at the Greentree County Club for a few years. She was a former member of Lighthouse Tabernacle Church.
Laura loved her family and devoted her time and energy to raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren. She loved to bake, her specialty being Apple Dumplings and Coconut Cream Pie. According to her family her Coconut Cream Pie was “out of this world.”
Survivors include her children; Mike (Michele) Sapp of Thorntown, Elaine (Tom) Dodd of Westfield; and Mariann (Ronnie) Edwards of Port Orange, FL; grandchildren; Laura Dodd, Wesley (Megan) Dodd, Marisa (Tyler) Weaver, Kaila (Adam) Mobley, and Landon (Mariah) Edwards; great grandchildren; Kaylee Sexton, Caroline Allen, Maddie Allen, Gunner Edwards, Oliver Dodd, Maggie Dodd, Felix Kelley, and Milo Kelley; great–great granddaughter; Octavia; step sisters; Barbara Sue Ford of Kentucky and Phyllis Strader of Kentucky; half-brother; David (Vonita) Neal of Kentucky; and nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, David, and her parents, Laura was preceded in death by her stepmother, Francis Neal; half-brother, Danny Neal; stepbrothers, Donald Gregory Sr and Lonnie Gregory; and stepsister, June Pierce.
Memorial Services are planned for 11:00 a.m., on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services. Laura’s cremains will be laid to rest following services at Maple Lawn Cemetery in Thorntown.
Memorials may be directed in her memory to Boone County Cancer Society, 1208 North Lebanon Street, Lebanon, IN 46052 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org/donate.
Online condolences: www.MyersMortuary.com