Best Selling Author, Laurel Lee, 58, Dies After Long Battle With Cancer

On the evening of August 10th, Laurel Lee, author of the new release Tapestry: The Journey of Laurel Lee, passed away from complications of late stage pancreatic cancer.

Canby, OR (PRWEB) August 14, 2004 -- Lee had been diagnosed with the fatal disease nearly one year ago and given three months to live. Shortly after the diagnosis, Lee contacted Lighthouse Trails Publishing of Silverton, Oregon. The publishing company rushed to get the book in print while Lee was still alive. They released the book just one month ago.In the late seventies, Lee wrote the best selling book, Walking Through the Fire, a hospital journal of her battle against terminal Hodgkin's disease at the age of 29. Against doctors predictions, she survived that disease, and her book became a CBS movie. The book and the movie propelled Lee into world wide travel, fame and adventure.

Lee is survived by her husband, New York children's book author, Michael C. Thaler, her son Matthew J. Lee of Canby, Oregon, her daughter, Anna C. Cairney of Portland, Oregon, her daughter, Mary Elisabeth Lee of San Francisco, California, her parents James E. and Ruth (Pat) I. Moore of Fremont, California. and her four grandchildren, Rebekah Faith Lee, Elizabeth Grace Lee, Matthew Jonathan Lee and Hannah Joy Lee.

Lee's books have been endorsed by many, including Billy and Ruth Graham, P.L. Travers, (author of Mary Poppins), and authors Marjorie Holmes, Joyce Carol Oates and Betty Rollin. As a popular speaker, Laurel spoke on numerous national talk shows, including NBC's Today Show. She had been featured in People magazine and Family Circle, and her books have been reviewed by the New York Times on more than one occasion.

When asked recently by Oregonian book reviewer, Jeff Baker, how it felt knowing she may die soon, Lee answered, "I have been to over 50 countries, but I have never been to heaven. I know it exists"

A Celebration of Life for Laurel's homecoming will be held on Tuesday, August 17th at 4pm at Tualatin Foursquare Church, 18080 SW Lower Boones Ferry Road in Tualatin, Oregon. All are welcome.

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Tapestry: The Journey of Laurel Lee
Written and illustrated by Laurel Lee
ISBN 0-972151230
$22.95 * 288 pages * First Edition-Hardbound