Laurie McKercher was a talented seamstress who loved cats. These things don’t necessarily seem related until they are woven into a project delivered with care, love, and passion.
Unfortunately, McKercher experienced a debilitating stroke in 2014 that left her no longer able to sew. But as one of the forces behind the growth and artistic capability of the Del Webb Sew Much Fun Club, McKercher adapted, becoming a valued consultant over the following years, teaching club members techniques and advising on various projects.
Delivering her skill through the hands of others allowed McKercher to continue her passion.
Among her activities during that time was advising the club on a quilt that pushed the limits of complexity, requiring intricate sewing techniques. It was an opportunity for McKercher to put her advising skills and sewing knowledge to a considerable test, just as it was a major challenge for club members.
Sadly, McKercher passed away before the quilt could be completed. At the time, it seemed the quilt project may have to be halted, but that was short-lived thinking. Instead, the club collectively decided it needed to see the project through to completion since that’s what McKercher would have wanted.
About the same time, Sew Much Fun members learned from her husband Frank, of McKercher’s love of cats and her interest in the Oconee Regional Humane Society (ORHS). Armed with this knowledge, the club had a new purpose: the quilt would be completed and then donated to ORHS so it could be sold to raise money for the animal shelter and the cats McKercher loved.
With its purpose established, club members set about finishing the quilt, remembering McKercher’s coaching and slowly transforming the colorful cloth into a beautiful expression of their friend’s legacy and the club’s work. It tested the limits of the club’s capabilities, but with the assistance of Carol McRae, a professional from the Lake Oconee Quilt Guild, the quilt turned out as a truly stunning work of art.
Once ORHS staff and board members became aware of the quilt, they were moved by its beauty and significance. All agreed the quilt would be highlighted as a cornerstone auction item during ORHS’s annual fundraiser this year, a Sept. 13 wine-tasting event at Oconee Brewing Company. Maximizing the quilt’s value at that event to support animals seems like the best way to honor everyone involved and carry McKercher’s legacy forward.
Tickets are now on sale for the ORHS wine tasting at orhspets.org. All proceeds support the care of local shelter animals and community programs.
ORHS is primarily funded through donations and occasional grants. To donate, visit ORHS online at orhspets.org, visit in person, or send checks to 1020 Park Ave., Ste. 101, Greensboro, Ga. 30642. To volunteer with ORHS, please visit the website or call 706-454-1508 for more information.