Lorraine Ann Lautze

Rainy (Lorraine Anne) Lautz was born July 26, 1956 and raised in San Carlos, California. She came to Sedona after graduating from UCSD in 1978. Rainy lived and worked at Garland's Lodge for the next ten years, "running a tight ship" in the office. Shew worked tirelessly in the gardens and raised pigs with Lodge leftovers. Ever an athlete, she played softball with the "Oak Creek Apples", enjoyed swimming and hiking, and was a competitive tennis player.

Rainy's life changed abruptly on a rainy day in April 1988 when a huge boulder collided with her VW bus in Oak Creek Canyon. After three years of rehabilitation, she returned to Sedona and purchased a home on her beloved Oak Creek. Bookkeeping at the Indian Gardens Trading Post, watering plants at the Garland building and Flower Peddler, tutoring at the library, and a stint at the recycling center filled her work days. Dogs and cats from the Sedona Humane Society were her prized companions. Tennis lessons with Larry Lineberry and workouts with Peggy Davis at the Sedona Racquet Club helped to keep her in shape. All marveled at her unflagging spirit and ever present smile.

Ross Heirigs became her friend and roommate in the Fall of 1997; they eventually married in 2005. Ross was with her when she died on January 3, 2011.

She is also survived by three sisters, Chris Hatton, Patty Phelps, and Peggy Metzger, and two brothers, Richard and John Lautze.

Rainy touched so many of our lives. Donations in her name may be made to:

Humane Society of Sedona
2115 Shelby Drive / Sedona, Arizona / 86336

or

Sedona Recycles
2280 Shelby Drive / Sedona, Arizona / 86336