Laura Dokken, age 67, of Russellville, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Monday, November 6, 2023, at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. She was born November 11, 1955, in Long Beach, California, to Brooks Brown and Rheaba Beatrice Benefiel Whiteside.

Laura was a devoted Christian, spending much time in the Bible and in prayer. She loved learning and grew up near university campuses where her father was a professor and a dean. She raised large dogs (a Great Dane, two German Shepard, and 2 Labrador Retrievers). When she commanded them to stop their antics, they obeyed her immediately. Laura enjoyed riding horses in both the Western and English styles. She also enjoyed murder mysteries, both in books and in film. She helped her husband process and then cook wild game with great skill. She is a descendant of the first families that settled in Pope County, including the Whiteside, the Shinns, the McEvers, and the Benefiels.

In addition to her birth parents, she was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Mary and A.J. Simon; two sisters, Betty Sue Menconi and Carolyn Johnson; and a brother, Raymond Whitesides.

She is survived by her loving husband, David Dokken; a brother and sister-in-law, B. E. and Glindolyn Whiteside; a brother-in-law, Bill Johnson; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and her long-time good friends, Karen and Mark Flick and Keith Anderson.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, and arrangements are by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials out to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Research Center, https://phassociation.org/research/pharesearchprogram/

Online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com .