Laura Bernice Burress, 89, formerly of Decatur, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Grapevine.

Funeral is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Laura was born in Wise County to Frank and Eva (Sexton) Clay. She married Neil Burress and was a homemaker. Her husband preceded her in death Nov. 17, 1983. Laura was also preceded in death by her parents, a granddaughter, Christie Thornton; six brothers and four sisters.

During World War II, Laura worked as secretary to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur.

She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Walburg and husband, James, of Southlake; grandchildren James Thornton and wife, Kerrie, of Decatur and Lauren, Alissa, Chloe and Jared Walburg, all of Southlake; great-granddaughter Dylan Thornton of Decatur; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 E. Lancaster, Fort Worth, TX 76103.