Person:Laura Dufore (1)

When she was born, she was a blue baby and was not expected to live, surviving to live to 103 years of age. As a child, she became very ill from typhoid fever, and when recovered had to learn to walk again. Her parents insisted on an education for their children and they were taught to do things as near to perfection as possible. They were well cared for and were never hungry. Her mother was an very good cook and her father farmed and worked in the logging camps in the winter. At age 5 or 6 she began helping her mother in the logging camps and after that she lived and worked in a least three different camps. It was very hard work with long hours. She said she had four brothers, all with different last names (this may be an error.) After a beating and argument she left home at 17 years of age. She worked various jobs and moved to Flint, saving money so she could go to beauty school. She opened her first bank account with 25 cents. She owned a successful beauty shop in Detroit and at age 40 joined the army and was stationed in New Guinea and Philippines. She then sold real estate successfully in California and owned several homes. She tried to live by 'letting Good God guide, govern, direct and protect' her.

 Source: her book, A Life So Full.

Obituaries Laura Mae Dufore, 103, of Newport , died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2007, at High Smith Rainey Hospital in Fayetteville. Arrangements will be announced by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. of Morehead City.

LAURA MAE DUFORE

 Laura Mae Dufore, 103, born December 22, 1903, died August 23, 2007 in Fayetteville. 

 Laura Mae was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist of New Bern. She was also a member of the Carl Lee Hill, Jr. American Legion Post #504, Falling Creek, and other civic organizations. 

 Laura Mae was born in Michigan and left home when she was 17 and became a hair stylist. She lived in Michigan until she was 39 years old, at which time she moved to Stockton, Calif., where she joined the U.S. Army on August 10, 1943. She attended her training as a supply clerk and was shipped overseas on September 21, 1944. 

 Laura Mae served honorably for two years in the U.S. Army. When her two years were completed, she was honorably discharged with a Good Conduct Medal, WAAC Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze Star and for the convenience of the United States Government for being over 35 years of age. 

 Laura Mae was a hairstylist, realtor, artist and a writer. She published a book in 2002 titled “A Life So Full.” about her life. She is survived by many special friends. 

 A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday September 4th at the Pollock-Best Funeral Home. Friends will be received from 6:30 p.m. until time of service. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, Principia College, c/o Caleb King, 13201 Clayton Rd. St. Louis, MS 63131. 

 Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.pollockbest.com. Arrangements by Pollock-Best Funerals & Cremations.  
 Sources: Sun Journal, New Bern NC, Aug 26, 2007 & Sept 2, 2007, and Carteret County News, Morehead City NC, Aug 28, 2007.

MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD FOR SECOND-OLDEST VETERAN OF WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS

Francine Sawyer September 4, 2007 - 8:45PM

 Friends and strangers turned out Tuesday night to pay tribute to Laura Mae DuFore, a veteran of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. 

 DuFore died Thursday at 103 years old. A memorial service was held Tuesday at Pollock-Best Funeral and Cremations. 

 DuFore was the second-oldest Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps veteran. The oldest is Charlotte Winters of Boonsboro, Md., who turned 109 this year. 

Beginning when she was 101, DuFore spent a year writing her memoir, "A Life So Full."

 Margaret E. Mitchell of New Bern, a retired textbook editor, spent a year with DuFore editing the book. 

 "She gave notes to me on small pieces of paper she had handwritten," Mitchell said. "I had to go to the unabridged dictionary often to look up many words, because she used words and terms that fell out of English usage because they were so old."

 Mitchell said DuFore was sharp. "She was alert, had a cute sense of humor and her memories were interesting and she accomplished so much in her life," Mitchell said. 

 In a Sun Journal interview with DuFore, celebrating her 103rd birthday on April 17, she said she didn'’t want to rely on taxpayers. 

 Her book and her oil paintings helped pay her way. 

 DuFore began collecting her veteran’s benefits less than two years ago.

 She began collecting life’s experiences long before that. She left her Michigan home at 17 to become a hair stylist. 

 She lived in Michigan until she was 39, moved to Stockton, Calif., and joined the Army on Aug. 10, 1943. A year later she was shipped overseas along with 150,000 WAACs during World War II. 

She was trained as a shipping clerk and served with the Army for two years.

 She received her honorable discharge with a Good Conduct medal, WAAC Service medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal, and a Service with a Bronze Star medal for serving during two campaigns in the war. She also received recognition for being over 35 years old when she joined the Army. 

 She toured Guam, the Philippines and New Guinea during her tour of duty. 
 
 She was also a real estate agent and an artist. 

 She did oil paintings and no matter the weather, she was at the Farmer’s Market in New Bern, selling her books and paintings. 

 She lived unassisted in Homeplace of New Bern until several months ago when she became terminally ill, and was moved to a veterans’ rest home in Fayetteville. 

 Gwen Seemer of Fayetteville drove to New Bern to pay final homage to DuFore. Seemer said she saw a story about DuFore in the Fayetteville Observer. “My sister was a WAAC during World War II and I have been following her (DuFore’s) story,” Seemer said. 

 Kandy Antwine of New Bern got to know DuFore through nursing home volunteer work. “She was amazing, outgoing and strong-willed,” Antwine said. 

 Antwine said she admired her strength and smile and her enthusiasm for life. 

 Roger Smith, district supervisor in Kinston for the N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs said at the memorial service that he loved DuFore. 

 DuFore married only once and had no children.
   Source: Sun Journal, New Bern NC, September 4, 2007.

School Picture

1. ↑ Belle Murphy Sweet interviews..
2. ↑ Obituaries.

   Sun Journal, New Bern NC, Aug 26, 2007 & Sept 2, 2007, and Carteret County News, Morehead City NC, August 28, 2007

3. ↑ Find A Grave.

   With tombstone picture.

4. ↑ A Life So Full, self published 2006, in Laura Mae DuFore, author.