Lauran Michele Lands, 59, of Paragould, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024. She was born March 13, 1965, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ron and Linda McNew. She married her high school sweetheart, Jeff, on March 3, 1984. They were blessed with 2 daughters, Mindy in 1986 and Kassidi in 1988. After graduating magna cum lade in elementary education from Freed Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, they moved back to the farm at Light, Arkansas, and finally to her residence in Paragould. Michele was a member of the Center Hill Church of Christ. Early in her marriage Michele and her family attended several smaller congregations where she would teach a children’s class. Often times her own daughters were the only ones in the class.
In 2002, her daughter, Kassidi, developed lupus and end stage renal disease. For the next 14 years, she cared for her while own health declined. By the time of Kassidi’s death in 2016, Michele had developed liver failure and diabetes. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2023.
Michele was preceded in death by her father, Ron McNew; her daughter, Kassidi Lands; and sister, Nicole Nelson.
Survivors include her husband of 40 years, Jeff Lands; her daughter, Mindy (Jason) Inman of Jonesboro; granddaughters, Ava Grace and Kyra Faith Inman of Jonesboro; her mother, Linda McNew of Jonesboro; sisters, Sondra Lenderman of Paragould and Brittany Luppy of Jonesboro; brother-in-law, Keith Lands of Light; and several nieces and nephews.
Michele gave her husband this poem before they were married and he wanted to share.
Sweetheart
“I thought you would like to know that someone’s thoughts go where you go. That someone never can forget the hours we spent since we first met. That life is richer, sweeter far for such a sweetheart as you are. And now my constant prayer will be that God will keep you safe for me.”
I know God is keeping you safe for me and I will see you soon, Sweetheart.
Services will be private.