Laura Lea (Lewis) O'Brien

Laura Lea (Lewis) O’Brien was born November 8, 1970, to Karen (Toedter) and Allen Lewis in Spokane, Washington. The family lived on a farm in Worley, Idaho where she attended school through the fifth grade. In 1981 they moved to the family farm in Rockford, Washington. She was active in cheerleading and a member of the band, and served a one-year reign as Southeast Spokane County Fair Queen. She graduated from Freeman High School in 1988. She continued her education at Washington State University where she obtained a Bachelor of Pharmacy (cum laude), graduating in 1993. During her time at WSU, Laura Lea was an active member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and served as chapter president. Laura Lea met Shawn O’Brien the first semester of their freshman year during Chemistry 105, where they were lab partners. They dated throughout college and were married May 29, 1993, at Zion Lutheran Church in Fairfield, Washington, the same church where she was baptized and confirmed. After graduation, Shawn and Laura Lea began their careers in Moses Lake, Washington, and started a family.