Laura Jean (Whipple) Powers, 37, peacefully passed away Jan. 7 at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center after losing a courageous two-year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by many loved ones and a caring nursing staff.

Laura Powers (known to her family as Bugs) was born to Gordon and Susanne Whipple in Mesa, Ariz.

Laura was quick with a joke and a smile, even in her last minutes, lighting up lives. At a young age, Laura possessed a special gift with animals; able to persuade ducks, deer, horses, skunks, snakes, dogs and cats to follow her home from school, much to the chagrin of her parents. Twenty one years ago, she met Shane, the love of her life, and they've been inseparable since.

Laura's love for animals led her to SafeHaven Humane Society where she started working in 1999 as an animal care technician. When she left the shelter in 2009, she was the manager. While a SafeHaven Humane Society, Laura persuaded all of her family and friends to adopt or foster cats and dogs, whether they wanted to or not. She enjoyed working with the Feral Cat Coalition, where they spayed and neutered feral cats, as well as volunteering for Paws in the Park, fairs, bazaars, fund raisers and participating in Strawberry Festival parades. She had a great talent for animal care and was highly respected by veterinarians for her abilities and knowledge. If there was an unruly dog that came into the shelter, she was always the first one there calming and taming it, earning the nickname, "the dog whisperer."

Laura was an avid photographer with a special knack for capturing wildlife. She had a vast collection of spectacular scenery shots from her cross country travels with Shane. She dabbled in portraiture and was a natural. In her free time, she loved camping, four-wheeling, snow-wheeling, riding quads, watching OSU Beavers football games and going to concerts with her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by everyone lucky enough to have her in their lives. "We all love and miss you Laura."

Laura was preceded in death by her mother.

She is survived by her father, Gordon Whipple of Lebanon; husband Shane Powers of Lebanon; brothers Phil Larson and wife Nancy of Lebanon, Jeff Larson and wife Janelle of Kirkland, Wash., and Eddie Whipple and wife Melissa of Anchorage, Alaska; and sisters Colleen Brown and husband Rex of Salem, and Shawna Whipple and partner Anjanette Hewitt of Seattle, Wash. She is also survived by her beloved dogs, Talia and Cooper; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as a large extended family.

As per Laura's wishes, there will be a celebration of her life open house beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at 31666 S.W. Fifth St., in Lebanon.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Laura Powers Cancer Fund at the Northwest Community Credit Union. Any donations in Laura's name to the Safe-Haven Humane Society of Albany would also be appreciated.