Laurie E. (MacDonald) Jenks

Laurie Elizabeth (MacDonald) Jenks, passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Braintree, at the age of 72, from complications of Aplastic anemia. 

Born in Oakland, CA, to Canadian immigrants, the late Donald & Elizabeth (Arthur) MacDonald, she was the middle of three children.  During her early childhood, the family moved from Berkeley, CA, to Chevy Chase, MD, and spent a year in Heidelberg, Germany before the family settled in Corvallis, OR.  Her early childhood included many trips to visit her Canadian family and “adopted” Conant cousins in the Toronto area, with vacations at the family cottage on Ahmic Lake in Northern Ontario.  

Growing up in a college town afforded Laurie many opportunities for outdoor activities with the family.  She had a passion for horseback riding and Arabian horses, loved and cared for her horse Salami, and enjoyed attending horse shows with her high school friends.  She attended Oregon State University and received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1974.  Her time at OSU was notable for a year studying abroad in Stuttgart, Germany, where she developed lifelong friendships with fellow students in her class.  Her college years were also notable for meeting the love of her life, Steven Jenks, whom she married in 1976. Together with Steve, the early marriage years were spent in various locations in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, before they settled in the Seattle area in Covington, WA on the beautiful Pipe Lake.  Aside from raising their two children, Laurie also worked in medical billing and as an office manager for several durable medical equipment companies.  Her favorite pastimes revolved around dogs.  She was an active member of the Western Washington Weimaraner Club.  Laurie & Steve enjoyed training and competing in dog obedience, conformation, hunting, tracking and agility.

An automobile accident in 2010 injured both Laurie & Steve, with Laurie suffering from severe traumatic brain injury.  Laurie & Steve’s recovery involved immediate post-accident care, and transfer of both Steve & Laurie to hospitals closer to their Seattle home.  After Steve’s recovery, he worked tirelessly as Laurie’s advocate for her care, which involved rehabilitation in several different states.  In 2018, Laurie moved to MA to be closer to family and have access to continued care to support her needs.  Steve followed to MA in 2020.  Laurie enjoyed participating in a day program designed for brain injury survivors, as well activities such as puzzles, playing dominoes, and ' Guess in 10' card games.  She also cherished visits and FaceTime calls from family and friends.  In December 2022, Laurie was diagnosed with Aplastic anemia.  She received transfusions for several months at Dana Farber in Boston, but her anemia was not responsive to treatment.  Laurie entered hospice care in April 2023, and she lived many months longer than the doctors predicted, able to enjoy her day program, puzzles, and visits with family.

Laurie is survived by her devoted husband, Steven G. Jenks of Lakeville; loving son, Jason Jenks & his wife Yeelin Tan of Bellevue, WA, and loving daughter, Kathryn “Katie” Walker & her husband Lamont of Lakeville; cherished grandchildren Evan and Talia; dear sister to John MacDonald & his wife Shirley of Portland, OR, and Margaret “Peggy” MacDonald & her partner Charles “Charlie” Rice of Manhattan, NY. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

There will be NO visiting hours.

Funeral and Interment Services will be held privately with the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Laurie’s honor and memory may be made to the Donald L. MacDonald Scholarship Endowment, through the Oregon State University Foundation, 4238 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333.

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