Laura Emory Stookey

Laura Emory Stookey, aged 67, resident of Wayland, MA, and formerly of Cambridge and Lincoln, MA, died on April 15, 2026 from complications stemming from frontotemporal dementia (“FTD”).

Born May 19, 1958 in New York City, she was a daughter of Katherine Emory Stookey, and the late John Hoyt Stookey. Laura grew up in New York City, with her three siblings, Helen S. Craig, Hunt E. Stookey, and Anson G.P. Stookey, where she attended The Chapin School, before heading off to Northfield Mount Herman School, and then ultimately to Simmons College, which brought her to Boston. A lifelong choral singer, in 1979 a fellow chorister tapped her to join a collection of women rowing on the Charles River, through which she met and ultimately married Harborne W. (“Gus”) Stuart, Jr. She and Gus settled in Cambridge, where they raised their two sons, Harborne W. (“Hobey”) Stuart III and Lawrence D. (“Lawrie”) Stuart. With her sons growing up and seeking a post-divorce adventure, Laura became the founding Executive Director of Landmark Volunteers, a non-profit summer service organization, which offered high school students an opportunity to give back to various non-profit organizations across the country. Deeply valuing education and appreciating those teachers at Chapin who taught her to read before her dyslexia was understood, Laura returned to school to get a Masters in Special Education from Leslie University. This kicked off a second career, first as a classroom assistant and reading specialist, and ultimately as an Instructor of English at Massachusetts Bay Community College. During these teaching years, Laura met Stephen T. Johnson, a fellow NMH graduate. She and Stephen shared a love of nature and a thoughtful, socially responsible approach to life, upon which they built a relationship for fourteen years.

Over the arc of her life, Laura’s constant loves were choral music, horses, sailing, skiing, and family. She was a long-time board member of the Berkshire Choral Festival, now Berkshire Choral International, often participating in summer singing weeks from the Berkshires to Canterbury, England and Salzburg, Austria. She loved the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones through a shared love of choral music. At home in Cambridge then Lincoln, she was a steady presence in her church choirs at First Church in Belmont, then First Parish, Lincoln. A free spirit throughout her life, Laura embraced her time outside. Horseback riding, canoe trips, sailing, skiing, and nature walks, Laura was happiest outside with friends and family. She loved racing her sons to get on a ski lift, which calmed to happily following small grandchildren down beginner trails, looking forward to years of multi-generational ski trips. A dream sorely stolen by FTD. As her memory slipped and conversations became challenging, Laura would spend her days walking through nature, trash bag in hand, working to keep her beloved trails and fields clean. Above all, Laura loved being part of a large, energetic, extended family; a privilege she never took for granted.

In addition to her mother, siblings, and sons, Laura leaves behind sisters-in-law Missy and Marilyn, daughters-in-law Kristen and Yorda, grandchildren Sam, Ben, Emory, Katherine, and Elizabeth, nieces and nephews, aunts, an uncle, and many cousins. Laura will be remembered for her strong opinions, warm smile, and big hugs.

A Memorial Service will take place at 4:00 p.m. on May 2, 2026 at First Parish in Lincoln.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to First Parish, Lincoln or Planned Parenthood.