What draws someone to stay connected to their roots, their history, their community? Many people will eventually move away from their childhood neighborhood–it’s not uncommon. However, what is uncommon is when an individual moves away but continues to leave their mark in their old community as if they were still there. Louanne Watson Condreay is one of those individuals who, despite her residence and career outside of White County, always seems to come back to show love to her home.

     Louanne was born in 1957, to Charles “Chuck” and Mary Watson in Wolcott, Indiana. She was raised there on her parents’ farm with her two brothers: Jim and John Watson. Living on a farm for her entire childhood, Louanne immediately began developing her leadership skills, the significance of generosity, and what it was like to have a strong work ethic. Louanne’s parents had a large role in her life as they established these values in her that she carries to this day.

     Louanne’s parents, Mary and Chuck, were very involved in the community of White County. Once Mary graduated from Purdue University, she moved to Wolcott where she met Chuck. Mary, as an educator, taught Home Economics, History, and Kindergarten at the Wolcott Schools off and on for many years. At the local church, she ran the church choir that her family was a part of and was a member of the board of the Fountain Park Chautauqua. Chuck began farming at the early age of fifteen and would do so for the rest of his life, mentoring many young farmers in the process like how others did for him during his early years. Chuck also found himself serving in the United States Army and would volunteer as a Red Coat at local and IU Hospitals. Together, Mary and Chuck managed their family farm and raised their children together. Mary and Chuck were all about helping kids that were considered disadvantaged. The two cherished the idea of giving back to others and wanted to instill that same sentiment into the rest of their family. Mary eventually passed away in 2019, with Chuck joining her again in 2021.

     Louanne’s parents were passionate about helping individuals that were considered disadvantaged and Louanne grew to feel the same way. From an early age, Louanne showed great leadership and love for helping others. She was heavily involved in the church, like the rest of her family, but also spent much of her time involved with 4-H and the Sunshine Society, a philanthropic directed group for adolescents. She graduated from Tri-County High School in 1975 and pursued her degree in Education at Purdue University. Louanne graduated from Purdue in 1979 and began her career as an educator straight away.

Louanne began teaching at Rensselaer Central High School in Rensselaer, Indiana once she graduated college, eventually moving on to Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Indiana and finally at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana. At first, she taught family and consumer science where she had the ability to teach children more practical skills that they could use in everyday life. Once she began teaching at Jefferson High School, she worked with students through an internship program for at-risk students. Louanne was in the classroom over the course of 29 years when she transitioned her role in the school to a school counselor in 2008. Louanne was a counselor for fifteen years, retiring in 2023.

     Louanne’s career in education was a way to express her passion for helping others. As a teacher, she was able to help young people reach their full potential. Through internships, study sessions, and her many years as a counselor, she utilized every moment to help get students back on the right track: the track that was right for them. Louanne loved the opportunity to learn about others and their families, make them feel accepted, and help others do the same for those individuals. During her time, she learned about a lot of different life experiences and was grateful for the opportunity to do so. Louanne treated each avenue of her career in education as a growing opportunity for herself, for others, and for her community at large.

     Louanne married her husband, Scott Condreay, on November 20, 1993. Scott, like Louanne, was an educator both at heart and professionally. He worked at Purdue University and taught Building Construction Management, served as the faculty advisor for the Building Construction Management Team, and worked in the Office of Facilities Planning. He was always finding ways to benefit others like with his work in the “Helping Hands” ministry at his local church where he would assist in home repairs for single women, widowed women, elderly, etc. Scott, unfortunately, passed away in 2021, but when they were together, Scott and Louanne fostered an environment of giving and compassion for others. One of the things they connected most on was the sentiment of helping others in need, and they did that every day in some way.

     Since Louanne’s retirement in 2023, she has remained doing significant work in the county in regards to giving back. A lot of active work she does is over in Tri County. She works with many students in filling out applications for scholarships, college, and employment of all sorts. She serves on the women’s board of the Fountain Park Chautauqua, is a supporter of the Youth Philanthropy Council here in White County, and donates to the Tri County Education Fund every year. Louanne has also established two unrestricted endowments with the Community Foundation of White County: The Charles & Mary Watson Memorial Fund and The Louanne Watson Condreay Endowment.

     For her entire life, Louanne Watson Condreay has been passionate about helping others reach their full potential. She carries on the sentiment that her parents stressed onto her of promoting excellence, not perfection, to every individual she came across. From her thousands of students to people she’s encountered in her various communities, Louanne understood that everyone’s story was different, but just as important as anyone else’s. While Louanne no longer resides in White County, she feels called to benefit the community that shaped her into the woman she is today. Her legacy in White County shines bright and will benefit our community even after she’s gone.