Laura Ellen Ghast, age 61
January 21, 1959 – March 18, 2020
Laura Ellen Ghast, age 61, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 4:00 AM – Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at her home.
Funeral services celebrating Laura’s life will be held at 10:00 AM- Saturday, March 21, 2020, at First Baptist Church, 400 West Washington Street, Newton, Illinois, with Rev. Stephen Willis officiating. Private burial will be in the Plainfield Cemetery east of Rose Hill, Illinois. Visitation will be held 3:00-7:00 PM Friday, March 20, 2020, at the church. In loving memory of Laura, memorials may be made to Kemmerer Village, 941 North 2500 East Road, Assumption, Illinois 62510-9706 or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 4400 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, www.donate.lovetotherescue.org. Arrangements are under the care of Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.
Laura was born on January 21, 1959, in Vandalia, Illinois, the daughter of Clarence Dean and Carolyn Lee (Scott) Kleinik. She was a graduate of Neoga High School, Class of 1977.
She married Scott Ghast on December 12, 1981, at the Neoga Presbyterian Church in Neoga, Illinois.
Laura worked for many years in the office of Effingham Ophthalmology Associates and Eyecare of Illinois, and then in logistics for
RNR Carriage. She was known by her grandchildren as Nanny and launched her own business, Just Desserts by Nanny.
She was strong in her faith and loved her church family at the First Presbyterian Church in Newton, Illinois, where she served as a
Deacon. Laura enjoyed many things, her sisterhood with the PEO friends, crafting, shopping and antiquing. She was known as a
great cook and proudly shared her love of cooking with her grandchildren.
Laura is survived by:
Husband of 38 years – Scott Ghast of Newton, Illinois
Parents – Dean and Carolyn Kleinik of Toledo, Illinois
Children – Tyler (Jacy) Ghast of Newton, Illinois, and Tawny (Brian) Abraham of Highland, Illinois
Grandchildren – Olivia Abraham, Alexis “Lexie” Ghast, Piper Ghast, Oliver Abraham, Odin Abraham and Orion Abraham
Siblings – Susan Lyn (Rick) Watson of Neoga, Illinois, and Kenneth Dean (Angela) Kleinik of Altamont, Illinois
Best Friends – Julie Clayton of Sigel, Illinois, and junking buddy Shelly (Scott R.) Johnson of Newton, Illinois
