Laurie (Morrison) Peters of Warren, VT, passed away on December 5, 2016, at the age of 71, surrounded by loving friends, after dealing with cancer. Laurie was born in Summit, NJ, on July 24, 1945, the daughter of Mildred Dorothy (Jacobson) and Laurence Wilnor Morrison. After graduating from Philadelphia College of Art, she moved to Vermont. In 1980, Laurie married Preston Peters, a longtime resident of the Mad River Valley.
Laurie taught art several years in elementary and high schools in the Burlington, VT, area. In 1972, she began teaching fine metals at the University of Vermont, where her outstanding teaching and mentoring was an inspiration to many traditional- and nontraditional-age students.
When she retired in 2013, after 45 years as a lecturer, she was celebrated widely. An exhibit honoring and featuring her work, which also included works by 15 of her students, was displayed at Von Bargen's in Burlington. In addition, Burlington’s Generator, a collaborative community of artists and entrepreneurs who provide a studio environment for innovation and creativity, named their metals studio in honor of Laurie.
The number of Laurie's students who now have their own galleries is a testament to her dedication, enthusiasm and expertise in sharing her knowledge with others. Several of these galleries are in Burlington and the surrounding area, with others across the Northeast. Some of her students have attained international acclaim. Laurie's own masterful creations have been in a number of galleries in the Northeast and most recently in Alchemy Jewelry Arts Gallery in Burlington, Brandon Arts Guild in Brandon, Artisans' Gallery in Waitsfield and Princess Gallery in Harbour Island, Bahamas. Laurie was also well known and admired for the exquisite custom pieces she created in her Warren studio.
In addition to her goldsmithing, Laurie was appreciated by many in the Mad River Valley for her love of horses, her adventurous spirit and her generosity. Her love of horses was ignited as a child when she attended summer camp in Vermont. She was a member of the Sugarbush Polo Club for many years. Laurie also reveled in water activities. Floating meditation in the Mad River behind her house was her home base each summer.
Kayaking on the Maine coast became a tradition for her and she tested the waters in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas as well. Laurie’s spirit and creativity were fed by travel. She and Preston enjoyed flying to many fascinating destinations in his four-person plane. Harbour Island in the Bahamas and Islamorada in the Florida Keys were beloved retreats for her and she was not hesitant to partake in more strenuous outings, such as her pony trek through Germany.
Laurie is survived by her sister, Shirley Ann (Morrison) Peterson of Eden Prairie, MN; her nephew, Carl Hansen of Edina, MN; and her niece, Kelsey Piquette of Edina, MN. She leaves behind many loving friends who will miss her warmth, her laugh, her spirit and her genuine love of life.
