Laura Hodge Moore Bateson

Laura Hodge Moore Bateson, 69, died December 10, 2025. She was diagnosed with cancer in June and later died from complications of AMSAN, a rare variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome caused by immunotherapy treatment. Laura was born on May 17, 1956, in Syracuse, NY, to her late parents, Ruth and Don Moore.

Laura grew up in DeWitt, NY, and graduated from Janesville-Dewitt High School. Soon after, she left for Colorado to pursue her lifelong dream of living in the West. She attended Colorado State University to study art, forming friendships that would last a lifetime. After taking several years to live in Steamboat, CO, where she managed a restaurant, she enrolled at Fort Lewis College in Durango. There, she again built lasting friendships and graduated with a degree in political science.

Laura later moved to Seattle, where she worked for a nonprofit organization focused on social justice. She traveled throughout the country raising awareness and funds for environmental issues before eventually settling in Salt Lake City, which she called home for the past forty years.

A gifted pianist and artist, Laura brought creativity to everything she did. As a Master Gardener, she devoted countless hours to cultivating beautiful gardens. She also restored and transformed multiple homes, serving as her own general contractor—painting, renovating, living in each home for a few years, and then moving on to her next project.

In her late 50s, Laura returned to school and became a Montessori Lower Elementary teacher. She loved teaching and collaborating with her fellow educators. Inspired by her students’ curiosity and individuality, she designed exceptional projects that integrated science, art, and history.

Laura had a remarkable gift for friendship. She stayed in close contact with people from every chapter of her life, faithfully maintaining connections through handwritten letters and later texts—though she never gave up letter writing. Family and friends were central to her life, and she nurtured those relationships with care and devotion.

Laura will be remembered as a generous, loving, and kind person, an excellent cook, and the beloved maker of legendary Christmas cookies. Those lucky enough to be on her cookie list eagerly awaited their personalized boxes each December. She began baking in November, filling her freezer with buttery creations shared with family, friends, and neighbors.

Laura was predeceased by her parents and her granddaughter, Olivia Rodgerson. She is survived by her siblings Don Moore (Sue Daley), Brad Moore (Elena Chak), and Susan Moore-Palumbo (Frank Palumbo); stepdaughters Cynthia Bateson and Jenni Bachman (Andrew); nieces and nephews Jessie Moore, Caitlin Moore, Colin Palumbo, Peter Palumbo (McKenzie), Anelia Moore, Nora Moore, and James Moore; grandchildren Jack, Max, and Ellie; and grandniece Palmer. She is also survived by her ex-husband, Steve Bateson; her aunt, Nancy Foster; numerous cousins; and many dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Syracuse at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider performing an act of kindness in Laura’s memory or donating to HawkWatch International (hawkwatch.org) or the Moore Family Fund for Wildlife Conservation (foundation@esf.edu).