Laura Elizabeth Godfrey Clapp, 92, a longtime resident of Lake Jackson, died Tuesday, the 31st of May, at CHI St. Luke's Health Brazosport. Born on August 7th, 1923 in Leicester, England, to Joseph and Mum Godfrey, Laura grew up and attended school in Leicester. Life changed completely during World War II and Laura did her part for the war effort by working in a radiator repair factory. Due to her short stature, she needed to stand on a wooden crate in order to reach the conveyor belt. It was during the war that she met and married, the love of her life, Allen "Sam" McMillan Clapp on May 12th, 1945. After the war she sailed to the United States on the QE I along with hundreds of other war brides. Allen and Laura settled in Freeport, Texas. Housing was in short supply after the war and their first home together was in a garage with a dirt floor, an ice box and a hot plate as the only way to prepare food. In later years, remembering those times, she always talked about the heat and the mosquitos, which practically carried her away when she stepped outside during the summer. Laura and Allen attended and were active members of the First United Methodist Church of Lake Jackson for many decades. Laura loved her husband, her children and her extended family. She took great pride in being a homemaker. She loved to dance to Big Band Sounds, and Allen and Laura could always be found at local venues with friends when that music was popular. When her children were grown, Laura worked outside the home in a job she thoroughly enjoyed at what today is known as Ms. Elaine's Wee Care Day Care. She was a founding member of the Trans-Atlantic War Brides Club until, as she used to say, people no longer understood the significance of the name. So the name was changed to the English Club. After Allen's death in 2005, Laura volunteered in the Lake Jackson Hospice Resale Shop because she wanted to give back to the organization that supplied so much care to Allen during his last days. She loved her work at the resale shop and was so very proud of being named the top salesperson. Laura loved an "old-fashioned cuppa" and, indeed, did not get moving in the mornings until she had her standard two cups of tea. She had one of the best-decorated and cleanest homes that could be found anywhere. She loved taking care of her home. Even after 75 years of living in Texas, she still maintained her English accent albeit with some added Texas twang. Laura is survived by her son, Barry Clapp, and wife, Victoria of Atascocita, Texas; her daughter, Donna Rimato, and husband, Richard of Lake Jackson; by her grandchildren, Brian Clapp, and wife, Lindsay of Houston; Heather Morrison, and husband, Tohma of Pearland; Brett Rimato, and wife, Sheena, of Lake Jackson; Lauren Moss, and husband, Mark of League City; by her great-grandchildren, Jami Briggs, Alexandra Hogue, Rylan Morrison, Harleigh Moss and Rosalee Moss. She is also survived by numerous sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews. Laura is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mum Godfrey; by her husband, Allen Clapp; and by her sister, Enid Hubbard, of Leicester, England. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 3rd, at Family Life Church, 220 Lake Road, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 from 9 10 AM. The funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Craig Taylor, Senior Pastor of Family Life Church at 10 AM immediately following the visitation. Pallbearers are Dave Mayberry, Ron Miles, Tohma Morrison, Mark Moss, Brett Rimato and George Warny. The interment will be at Restwood Memorial Park, 1038 West Plantation Drive, Clute, Texas 77531. Funeral arrangements are provided by Freeport-Lakewood Funeral Home, 98 North Dixie Drive, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566. Memorial donations may be made to Helping Hands & Hearts Hospice, 412 Plantation Drive, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566.

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