Laura L. Millard, 50, of Salem, died Monday, July 23, 2007, at her home.

Born Oct. 14, 1956, in Des Moines, she was the daughter of Maurice D. and Margaret M. Lee Millard.

Ms. Millard practiced law as a public defender in Sioux City, Iowa City and Burlington. She later worked at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, Mont. She returned to Iowa in 1999. Since that time, she was a social worker through Young House Family Services and Mid Iowa Family Therapy Clinic, primarily focusing on foster care.

She was a 1975 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. She received a bachelorss degree from the University of Iowa and a law degree from the University of Iowa School of Law.

She loved nature and wildlife, hunting and fishing. She also enjoyed working on crossword puzzles.

Survivors include her mother of Mount Pleasant; one son, Aaron Comstock of Tipton; one daughter, Rebecca Wilbert of Salem; six grandchildren; two sisters, Maureen Edwards and Mary Stoner, both of Mount Pleasant; and one brother, Ray Millard of Mount Pleasant.

She was preceded in death by her father and one brother.