La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Our beloved Laura Bird departed this world at Skagit Regional Health, Mount Vernon, on October 4, 2023 surrounded by her son, Shane and many family and friends. Laura fought a righteous battle against breast cancer that had returned last spring.

Laura was born at Renton, WA on June 11, 1973 and grew up on Pleasant Ridge (La Conner) with her parents, Allen and Gail Bird. She attended school in La Conner and Mount Vernon. Her adult years were spent traveling and working throughout the United States, culminating in a recent trip where she proudly accomplished visiting all 50 states. Las Vegas was a favorite travel destination including a trip last June where she celebrated her 50th birthday.

Married in 2001, she returned to Skagit Valley in 2005 shortly after her son Shane's birth. After purchasing a house west of Mount Vernon, she spent many years remodeling her home, often taking on advanced carpentry projects single handedly. From exterior siding replacement to interior plumbing, flooring or tiling; there was no task that Laura didn't tackle with focused determination. Professionally, Laura became a licensed REALTOR®, successfully representing many buyers and sellers as Managing Broker for RE/MAX – Gateway, Anacortes. At her death she was serving as President of The North Puget Sound Association of REALTORS® (NPSAR). Additionally, she was named REALTOR® of the year at her Presidency installation December 2022.

Laura was preceded in death by her mother, Gail Bird and brother, Kenneth Foss

Survivors include her son, Shane Konz; fathers Allen Bird (Margaret) and Tommy Wells; mother Janice Bellingar (Ralph); brothers Derik Landry, Daniel Bird (Jenny), Jim Foss (Jill), and Neil Foss; and sister Kathy Bennett. Additionally she leaves behind her aunt Kathleen Brown and her many Bird, Brown, Foss, and Heilman family aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Laura always cherished time with her large expanded family, which included her best friends Drew Pickens and Cedric Brown, and her dear friends since they were children, Melissa Miller and Jamie Reinstra.

Laura had a strong connection to the Swinomish Tribal Community throughout her life. It was her wish to be sent on her next journey in the traditional Swinomish way. In keeping with her wish there will be a gathering at The Swinomish Casino and Lodge on Friday October 27, 2023 beginning at 1 PM, located at 12885 Casino Drive – Anacortes, WA.

Donations in honor of Laura Bird may be sent to: North Puget Sound Association of REALTORS®, 517 E. Fairhaven Ave., Burlington, WA 98233, or La Conner Community Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 1277, La Conner, WA 98257. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon, WA.