Laura Gay Dickenson, 69 of Ridgeway, Virginia passed away from natural causes, Sunday, October 18, 2026, under Hospice care after losing her battle with a long-term illness.

Laura was born on McDill Air Force Base, Florida on July 4,1957 to her parents Basil “Bill” and Shirley Harris. Her immediate family included her older brother Nick and younger brother Richard.

Laura was a 1976 graduate of Aurora, Colorado’s William C. Hinkley High School where her family had settled after following their Father’s military career at several military bases in the United States and the Philippines.

On December 30, 1976, she married the love of her life - Danny Dickenson after meeting him while he attended Air Force training at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. Laura immediately became a military spouse for several years while they were stationed at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Danny and Laura resigned from the Air Force in 1981 and returned to Danny’s home in Martinsville, Virginia to raise their family and start new careers. The new family was soon blessed with two sons, Darin and Drake Dickenson. Over the years, her family became active sportsmen while enjoying camping, boating, hunting, fishing, and raising dogs.

Laura had a full life of motherhood, work, and volunteering. While raising her two sons, a grandson, and supporting her husband’s career with Norfolk Southern Railroad, she was a successful businessperson with the companies Home Interiors and Premier Jewelry. Laura was often recognized as being one of Premier Jewelry’s top salespersons nation-wide. Her infectious positive Christian outlook on life and always goal-driven to make new friends ensured she impacted many lives during her many years in Martinsville. Her final years there saw her working at the Chick-Fil-A where she continued to positively influence her coworkers and customers with her sincere interest in, and care for, the people she interacted with daily.

While both of her sons became Virginia High School champion wrestlers, Laura was very active in supporting and leading many of their high schools’ wrestling programs, fund raising, and support activities. She remained equally active in her grandson’s baseball and wrestling endeavors.

She was a member over the decades with several Martinsville churches and was always active in church activities as she loved each parishioner as she walked and grew with her personal Saviour Jesus Christ.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Shirley Harris and parent in-laws, Ken and Goldee Dickenson; her husband Danny Dickenson; and sister-in-law Diana Rakes.

Survivors include her sons Darin and Drake Dickenson; grandson Devin Dickenson; brother Nick and wife Kathy; brother Richard and wife Renee; brother in-law Calvin Rakes; along with many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Richard and Renee, and friends Joe and Emily Roark, for caring for and overseeing Laura’s affairs for the last couple of years while Laura was supported by assisted living facilities in the Montrose, Colorado area. Each of us has our own special memories of our beloved Laura through the years that we will hold onto dearly.

Graveside services will be held, 2:00 P.M. Friday, November 6, 2026. in Roselawn Burial Park in Martinsville, VA. The family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the services. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Southern Area Agency on Aging, 1075 Spruce St., Martinsville, VA 24112, southernaaa.org.

Roselawn Chapel Funeral Home and Burial Park entrusted with arrangements.