Laura Elizabeth "Laurie" Mccoll

Laura (Laurie) McColl, 56, was born on October 26, 1967 in Toledo, Ohio to Suzy (Smith) Heabler and R. Terry McColl. An ‘86 honors graduate of Maumee High School, Laurie went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in General Biology with a minor in Conservation and Resource Use from Eastern Michigan University in 1995, with a Magna Cum Laude distinction. After working in wildlife management across the country for many years, she found her true calling in caring for domestic animals and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the veterinary technician program at Jefferson College in Hillsborough, Missouri in 2004. Laurie provided compassionate, expert care to animals throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Most recently, she was proud to partner in the creation of an urgent care pet clinic in her hometown.

Laurie’s dream of owning a farm came true in 2014 when she founded ‘Breezy Acres’ in Berkey, Ohio, where she nurtured her ‘children,’ including beloved horse Belle; dogs Paisley and Rita; goat Howie; and countless other creatures great and small. Proudly independent, Laurie lived her best life on the farm, which she continuously updated and improved through a combination of careful planning, sweat equity, and limitless creativity.

Laurie loved music, especially 70s rock, folk, and disco; 80s new wave and pop; 90s alternative; and contemporary Americana. She enjoyed seeing live music with friends, and counted Duran Duran, Prince, the Rolling Stones, and INXS as some of her favorite performances. Laurie also loved visiting craft breweries and finding special treasures in antique stores and thrift shops.

Surrounded by love, Laurie passed away at Hospice of Northwest Ohio following a short and shocking illness. She was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents. Left to honor her memory are her loving family including step-father Mike Heabler; step-mother Alice McColl (Mike Chiarelli); siblings Carrie Heabler and Katie, Ryan, Shannon, and Kevin McColl; aunt Marianne Duvendack; nephews Colin Sloan, Draven, Corbin, and Ethan Veal, and Scott McColl; nieces Erica and Britta McColl; and countless friends, colleagues, and clients. She will be remembered for her strong advocacy for animals, brilliant mind, sharp sense of humor, and the tangible devotion she showed to those she loved with two legs and four legs, feathers and fins.

Please join the family in celebrating Laurie's life on Sunday, July 28th at Patron Saints Brewery, 4730 W. Bancroft St. Toledo, OH 43615, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wear your barn clothes or favorite concert t-shirt, and come share a pint and some laughs with others who miss her dearly.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to your favorite animal charity or the National Audubon Society.

To share a memory of Laura or leave a special message for family, please visit the guestbook below.