Lauren Hickman Best, 40, of Campbell Avenue, Emlenton, died unexpectedly at 10:15 p.m. Monday shortly after arrival in the emergency room at UPMC Northwest, Seneca, Venango County.

Born July 16, 1965, in Oil City, she was the daughter of Larry W. and Gayle A. Ritts Hickman.

She was a 1983 graduate of Cranberry High School and attended Butler County Community College.

Mrs. Best was part owner, along with her mother, of the Milady's Shop in Oil City. She also was employed in the family business, Hickman Lumber, in Emlenton.

She was an active member of the Emlenton United Methodist Church and had been a member of the church council.

She was the secretary for the A-C Valley Youth Football League and was very involved in all of her children's social activities.

Surviving are her husband, Patrick L. Best, whom she married Sept. 16, 1989, in Seneca; three children, Cassidy M., Nathan L. and Elaine I. Best, all at home; her parents of Emlenton; a brother, Dennis Hickman and his wife, Jane, of Kennerdell and their children, Jacob, Jessica, Anne and Melissa; and a sister, Amy Hickman and her husband, Richard Stelts, of Arvado, Colo., and their son, Max Hickman, also of Arvado.

She also is survived by her paternal grandmother, Elanor Vorous Hickman of Emlenton; her father-in-law, Dick Best and his wife, Helen, of Seneca; her stepfather-in-law, Robert C. Best of Knox; and a number of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Merle and Elva Ritts; her stepgrandfather, A.T. Murray; her paternal grandfather, Harry L. Hickman; and her mother-in-law, Darlene Best.

<B>BEST</B> — Friends of Lauren Hickman Best, who died Monday, May 8, 2006, will be received from noon to 3 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton. Visitation also will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Emlenton United Methodist Church, 1303 Kerr Ave., Emlenton, where funeral services will follow at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Kenneth Duffee, officiating. Burial will be at the Emlenton Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to the Emlenton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 721, Emlenton, PA 16373; the Emlenton Area Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 346, Emlenton, PA 16373; or to the Emlenton Fire Department, P.O. Box 378, Emlenton, PA 16373.