Laura Lee Buwalda

Laura Lee Buwalda, also known as “No Shoes,” “Mama Buwalda,” and her favorite name “Grandma,” of West Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on February 21, 2025, at the age of 69. She was born on February 12, 1956, in Tawas, Michigan, where she grew up with her parents, Agnes and John Smith, and her siblings Sandy, Sharon, Rita, and Peggy. She was the youngest of the family. The family moved to Florida on Halloween morning in 1960. Her siblings and family were branches on a tree that never truly grew apart from each other.

She grew up to become a fierce, no-nonsense, larger-than-life force to be reckoned with—fearless and unapologetically herself. She had many friends in her younger years, enjoyed going to the races at Palm Beach Speedway, playing cards, and having a few late nights at Mill & Bill’s. In March of 1979, she married her children's father, Steve. With this marriage, she gained a whole new family—the Buwaldas.

Laura dedicated much of her adult life to being a stay-at-home mom, raising her two daughters, Tiffany and Crystal. She cherished the time spent with them and never missed an event during their school years, whether it was volleyball games, lacrosse matches, or events for Tiffany’s Class of 2002. Laura made sure to capture every moment on film so that no memory was missed. She also loved attending Crystal’s horse shows after her daughter graduated. It was during this time that Laura became known as “Mama Buwalda” to not just her daughters’ friends but to many others in the community.

While staying at home, Laura also ran a plant nursery with her husband, Steve. After her daughters graduated from school, she worked at AutoNation Chevrolet in Greenacres as a file clerk for nearly 20 years. It was here she met a wonderful group of ladies who would become her lifelong friends.

Laura had a deep passion for racing, and in recent years, her favorite driver was Kyle Larson. She also had a fascination with hurricanes, especially tornadoes. One of her most memorable adventures was tornado chasing in 2014, during which she toured Wakita, Oklahoma; Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas; Carlsbad Caverns; and Taos Pueblo in New Mexico.

A lover of animals, Laura had a special bond with her childhood collie, Princess, who the family brought with them when they moved from Michigan. Throughout her life, Laura and Steve shared their love of animals while raising their daughters. Their home was filled with a variety of pets, including hunting dogs, a squirrel named Lucky, guinea pigs, chinchillas, quail, hamsters, a cocker spaniel named Lady, birds, and three cats named Star, Mia, and Rambo, along with an iguana.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren. She had Brandon, who loved horses; John, who loved horses and karate; and Bristol, who loved sleepovers, ice cream, and happy coloring on BGE’s phone. Her grandchildren were her light, and she will forever be with them.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Agnes and John Smith, and her beloved siblings, John (Sandy) Smith and Sharon Azoon.

She is survived by her daughters, Tiffany Allen and Crystal Buwalda, and her grandchildren, Brandon and John Lucas, and Bristol Allen

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Good Samaritan Hospital, Hospice of the Palm Beaches - Trustbridge, and Advocate in Home Care for the care and compassion shown to Laura in her final days. Special thanks to Kaitlyn and Linda with Advocate in Home Health Care. Kaitlyn ensured the family had everything needed for Laura, and Linda provided daily care for her at home. A special thank you also goes to Marie from Trustbridge, Laura's hospice nurse, who visited her a few times a week, ensuring she was comfortable and had everything she needed.