Laura Maria (Boughton) Hiler

Laura Hiler passed away on May 31st 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri after a long battle with a stroke. Laura was born Oct. 29, 1964 in Saint Louis, Missouri to Gorden Lee Boughton and Frances (Fran) Mandernach Boughton. She attended Parkway North High School where she excelled in soccer and field hockey. Laura earned a scholarship to attend Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield and play field hockey for the Bears earning MIT All Tournament Team Honors in 1986. Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1988.

Laura began her teaching career at Raymondville Elementary. She also taught at Skyline, Mansfield, and Kirbyville schools. She spent her last 13 years at Mountain Grove. Laura had a love of teaching special education and did so for the majority of her career. Laura always had a special place in her heart for special education for all ages. She was always actively involved in her church and worked diligently organizing Sunday School. She promoted the interests of special education in the area and throughout the state, including Sporting Chance. She was also appointed to serve on the Wright County Board for the Developmentally Disabled. During her time on the board she helped build a new group home in Mountain Grove for the handicapped and also helped give input to the new proposed Sheltered Workshop.

Laura met her husband, Duane Hiler, at SMSU. They were later married on Aug, 12, 1988. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Shelby and Dawson, who were the light of her life. They all shared a love of sports, with Duane coaching high school and Laura coaching several different youth sport’s teams in which Shelby and Dawson participated. Laura had a passion for working out and could be seen all over town exercising with many different friends and walking her dogs. She enthusiastically cheered on Shelby and Dawson at their many sporting events. Laura always did everything with a passion no matter how big or how small it was. She leaves behind several students, friends, and teachers who are proud to have marched in “Hiler's Army”.

Laura is preceded in death by her Father: Gorden Boughton; and Father in law: Sherman Hiler.

She is survived by her husband: Duane; her daughter: Shelby; and her son: Dawson, all of the their home in Mountain Grove; her mother and step-father: Fran and Bill Besancenez of Creve Coeur, Missouri; one sister: Julie Coombs of St. Charles, Missouri; one brother: Will Boughton and his wife, Barb, of Wentzville, Missouri; her mother-in-law: Connie Hiler; one sister-in-law: Denise Smith and husband, Tommy; and one brother in law: David Hiler all of Willow Springs, Missouri; several step-brothers, step-sisters, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends, coworkers, and students who will greatly miss her.

Memorial Contributions:
Girls on the Run and Panther Closet in care of the funeral home.