Laura L. Steadman

Laura L. Steadman, 78, of La Junta passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at her home. She was born on Nov. 13, 1932 to Augustus and Blanche (Jordan) Pope in Enid, Okla.
She was a master teacher, a teacher that expected her students to work at their highest capacity. Laura Steadman wanted her students to achieve as much as they could in and out of her classroom. It didn't matter what she was teaching ... from business, to English, reading, or history, also mythology and composition, Laura worked hard to help her students learn. She retired from the La Junta school system after a 35-year career that started in Oklahoma.
During her lifetime of teaching Laura received any number of awards. Probably the one that meant the most to her was the April 1992 Sunshine Award at the Wake Up La Junta breakfast. She was introduced by Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Treece. She was lauded by Treece for her many and varied teaching techniques. "She makes kids want to learn, sometimes she scares them into learning. She finds a way to reach and appeal to every kind of student," Treece said. "If Laura is your friend, she is your friend for life ... through thick and thin," Treece added.
Laura Pope was 19 years old when she started her teaching career in Paoli, Okla. The year was 1953. In June 1954 she married Clarence Edmond (Ed) Steadman in Oklahoma. They moved to Swink that fall where Ed had been teaching for a year. When Laura came to Colorado she got a job teaching in Ordway. Back during her three-year stint at Ordway, she was hired as the business teacher. Laura also sponsored journalism, helping with the school annual and served as drama teacher, helping with class plays. After her time in Ordway, Laura taught English and business for seven years at Swink.
Then came her long journey with the La Junta school district. Her first job in La Junta was at Herren Junior High School (later La Junta Middle School). Following that, Laura started her career at La Junta High School where she taught freshman English for some 25 years. There wasn't a student Laura didn't love ... some might have tried her patience ... but she kept working with them. They were all important and deserved the best education they could get in her classes.
Laura never stopped learning. While at La Junta High School the impetus for a new program came from a former student who was in the U.S. Navy. The Navy had taught him to read and he came back to show Laura what he had learned. He came on a Monday and by Wednesday, Laura and a fellow teacher, Betty Bicknell, were on their way to San Diego, Calif., to learn the Navy method of teaching students to read. At the time Laura had said, "It's creating the idea that a problem exists and not being afraid to tackle it." The two teachers started the reading program, which wasn't their field.
The program grew so large, it became federally funded, had the two teachers and two full-time para-professionals. The program allowed students to learn how to read in five weeks. They later had night classes to help older people who needed help learn to read with the same program.
She also tutored students in her home. Then their were times when she'd go to the county or city jails to teach students. Every child was important to this teacher.
While at La Junta High School she was a Hi-Teens sponsor. One year Laura and her organization baked more than 450 pies (actually Laura baked them). With that fund raiser the group made over $5,000 to donate for the new hospital (Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center). Overall the group raised enough in funds to have their name on one of the hospital doors. Besides Hi-Teens, Laura was a class sponsor, making senior trips and she also sponsored the cheerleaders and traveled with them.
She lost her lifemate, Ed, on April 16, 1984. He had been in education, a teacher and principal at Swink for 15 years. When he left Swink, he served as a principal and teacher at Rocky Ford until his death.
After her retirement in 1988, Laura enjoyed traveling to see relatives in Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, North Dakota and California. But, teaching was in her blood. Rocky Ford School District asked her to "fill in" as an English teacher for a year. She spent several months at La Junta Middle School teaching history. Then she returned to Swink for another teaching stint along with her longtime friend and fellow La Junta teacher, Kathi Blevens.
Laura graduated from East Central University in Ada, Okla., and had the equivalent of a master's degree, having taken courses at Adams State, Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the University of Southern Colorado, now Colorado State University at Pueblo.
The most important thing in Laura's life was her family, not only Ed and their son, Chuck, but her daughter-in-law and grandchildren; her brother and his family and a sister and her family. One of Laura's nieces, Sharon lived with Ed and Laura.
She is survived by her son, Chuck (Lisa) Steadman of Nelsonville, OH; granddaughters, Kirsten (Leon) Sparkman of Lancaster, OH; Kaylla Steadman of Nelsonville, OH; Karlyn Steadman of Nelsonville, OH; brother, Ronald (Bonnie) Pope of Mt. Vernon, TX; sister, Betty Jo Alred of Salinas, CA; Special Niece, Sharon Smith of Salinas, CA; nieces & nephews also survive.
Laura is preceded in death by her parents, Augustus & Blanche Pope; husband C.E. “Ed” Steadman in 1987; brother, Pershing Pipes.
Visitation will be Monday, March 28, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel and also Tuesday, March 29, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to noon also at the chapel. Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church with Reverend Terilynn Russ of the United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Rocky Ford.
Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made care of the La Junta State Bank.