Laura Elizabeth "Lori" Ruiz

EDINBURG - The world lost a beautiful soul on April 29, 2021. Laura Elizabeth Ruiz was born to a loving family on July 1, 1998. She was spoiled by her brothers, a spitting image of her mother, and Daddy's little girl. At the age of 22, "Lori" left us way too soon. But in those 22 years, she lived a life to be proud of.
Lori attended Robert Vela and Edinburg North High School, graduating with honors from the latter in 2016. She performed for years with Dancentre of Edinburg, played varsity and club volleyball, participated in drama, and was a part of FFA. At Texas State University she discovered a passion for philosophy and graduated Cum Laude with a double major in philosophy and political science in 2020. She went on to continue her studies at Texas State in the Political Science Graduate Program where she also worked as a teaching assistant. She hoped to be a professor and share her passion for the power of thought with others. Lori's hard work was one of her defining characteristics. She worked multiple jobs during college, delivering food on the weekends and between classwork, as well as working at Side-by-Side Kids, a faith-based after-school program, mentoring young children in Austin. She was fiercely independent, loved without condition, and hoped to spend her life helping those in need. Her beautiful smile filled her family with happiness, hope, and love.
The memory of this wonderful girl will forever be treasured by her family.
Lori is survived by her parents, Beth and Larry; her two brothers, Larry and Bryan; her amazing grandparents, Larry and Eileen Sullivan and Manuel and Ofelia Ruiz; her aunts, Christine Cassell, Cynthia (Agustin) Negrete, Laura (Joaquin) Ruiz-Martinez; and her first cousins, Andrea, Thomas, and Miranda Negrete, Zoe and Hannah Cassell, Gabriela and David Martinez, Evan Sullivan, and Lex Aversa.
She is preceded in death by her loving uncles, Terry Cassell, Thomas, and Michael Sullivan.
The Ruiz family will hold visitation for Lori on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 5 p.m. followed by a rosary at 7 p.m., at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton Rd. in Edinburg. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edinburg.
She will be dearly missed by her family and friends and all who she touched in life.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Palm Valley Animal Society where Lori rescued her beloved dog, Mia. You may visit https://www.pvastx.org/donate to make a donation in her name.