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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Lawrence, Mary Wilma
Mary Wilma Lawrence, 87, of 1650 Koehler Dr. NW, No. 145, passed away Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. The Rev. Harlan Gillespie of St. Paul's United Methodist Church will officiate. Inurnment: St. Paul's United Methodist Church Columbarium. Arrangements by Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Surviving to honor her memory are her husband of over 63 years, Keith; three children, Rhonda K. (Arthur Rosett) Lawrence of Los Angeles, Calif., Emilie Lawrence (Dean) Thompson of Decorah, and Kent Lawrence of San Francisco, Calif.; three grandchildren, Matthew (Sarah) Thompson, Erik Thompson and Kathryn Lawrence; and two sisters, Barbara Haven of Loveland, Colo., and Norma Vandeven of Dallas, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Leroy and Ora Forker Stock; and a daughter, Jennifer Lynn.
Born Nov. 26, 1923, in Colfax, Iowa, Mary graduated third in her class from Colfax High School in 1941. Before her marriage to Keith Lawrence at First Methodist Church on June 8, 1947, in Des Moines, she worked as a stenographer at A.Y. McDonald's Plumbing & Heating and secretary at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mary and Keith lived in several Midwestern towns, finally settling in Cedar Rapids in 1963. Before retiring in 1987, she was employed as a sales associate for 23 years at Armstrong's Department Store.
A devoted wife and mother, Mary was a longtime active member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, where she participated in UMW and Kum Double, tirelessly organized Thrift Mart and oversaw the altar flower ministry. She was also a member of the LI Chapter of PEO.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Please send to the Mary W. Lawrence Memorial Fund, c/o Mercy Foundation, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403, or donate online at:
Please leave a message or tribute to the Lawrence family on the web page, under obituaries.
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