Friends, sadly, we have learned of the death of Laura Lee Ticknor, ADS Life Member, from NC. Her son has notified Loyce McKenzie that his Mother died on 30 MAR. An obituary will appear soon in the Raleigh News & Observer and the Virginian Pilot. The funeral will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal, in Edenton, NC, on 6 APR. Bill Ticknor, Laura Lee’s husband, was an ADS President and also served as the second Executive Director. Laura Lee was the Co-Executive Director. They served from 1978-1983. My most fond memory of Laura Lee is this fabulous needlepointed purse she had, with her initials and daffodils on it. At every Convention I admired it. I’m sure she did the work on it herself. I was inspired to try and create one for myself, in my misspent youth. Alas, I was not gifted with the ability to perform “needle art”. Laura Lee was always such a gracious lady… so friendly and encouraging.
Sorrowfully,
Jaydee Atkins Ager
ADS Executive Director
Laura Lee was an honorary member of the Northeast North Carolina Daffodil Society. We first met her when we were trying to establish a Daffodil Society in NC and I was making a Daffodil presentation to the Edenton, NC Garden Club. She came to the first couple of shows and after that she could not attend for health reasons. Fran and I were honored to have her, and kept her on the mailing list. Laura Lee loved the daffodils of her husband Bill Ticknor and talked about how he would brighten up and get animated when the subject of daffodils arose. We will miss her.
Clay
I am so sorry to hear of the death of Laura Lee and send heartfelt condolences to their children Bill and Susan. Both Betty and I had the pleasure of both being hosted and hosting Bill and Laura Lee in our resective homes.They were generous and gracious hosts and wonderful guests. Alas, they spent longer than intended in our home after the 1979 World Convention as Bill had contracted pneumonia.
Most of my early communication with the ADS was through Bill Ticknor and he was largely responsible for persuading me to go to my first convention in Philadelphia in 1976. He drove me to meet such wonderful people as Bill Bender, Kitty Bloomer , MA-arie Biozievich, Roberta WAtrous and others. With us on most of those thrip were JAck Goldsmith, Barbara Abel-Smith and Sir Frank and PArticia HArrison. Such a wonderful introduction to ADs conventions – and an enticement to return many times. For all those joyous occasions and all that they did for us I am grateful to Bill and Laura Lee – they were true friends over many years and Laurs Lee’s passing draws to an end a wonderful chapter in our lives. I hope Bill and Susan my see this note – alas, we have lost contact – we think Bill is still in America and Susan in Germany with her family.
Brian