Gary and Laura, originally from Indiana, currently live in Lynchburg, Virginia, and are parents to three children. Ryan and Megan live nearby, and Nathan resides in Heaven. Early in his career, Gary served as a pastor, then as a professor teaching at the graduate level in the area of Christian ministry. Laura is a former RN, then treasured the years as a homeschooling mom, and worked for over twenty years in marketing for the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

In 2016, after a battle with depression, Nathan died by suicide at the age of twenty-five. He was an electrical engineer, entrepreneur, witty, kind and compassionate, and loved his family and friends. He is deeply missed.

After Nathan’s death, Gary and Laura experienced the comfort found by spending time with other bereaved parents. Yearning to provide similar opportunities for other grieving parents and to challenge them to trust Jesus, Our Hearts Are Home was born. They are grateful for the privilege of working full-time with the ministry.

Married for forty years, Gary and Laura enjoy walking on any beach, reading, and spending time with their children. For more information visit the website at ourheartsarehome.org.

OHAH Co-Founders; Facilitators; Conference Speakers; Contributing Authors, Until Then: Stories of Loss and Hope & Held Through the Storm: Stories of Suicide Loss and Hope in Christ (2024); Reflections of a Grieving Mom (2024)