Five years ago today, Laura Crooks, a writer and editor at The Spokesman-Review, died suddenly at home while working on her son's Halloween costume.

She was just 37, mother of two young children and wife to Gary, an associate editor here still.

A few of us reminisced today over coffee about the amazing Laura -- her relentless energy, her quickness at the computer and how she would call BS on you in a minute. She was a truth-teller, for sure.

We lose family members throughout our lives but we also lose beloved co-workers and that becomes part of our grief story, too. Missing Laura today and I'm not alone in the missing.

(Photo courtesy of Gary Crooks)

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