Eugene W. Lawrence

Eugene Wade Lawrence was born April 26, 1925 in Hepler, Kansas to Orley Martin Lawrence and Amy Lida Lawrence. He attended Columbus High School in Kansas. During high school he played clarinet in the high school band (by ear.) He also played on the school basketball, football and softball teams, serving as captain of the basketball team for two years. During his freshman year he served as class president. After graduating in 1943, he was drafted into the Army. On November 11, 1944 he married his high school sweetheart, Beulah Hannon. He then served overseas in Germany in the infantry during WWII with the 104th Timberwolves Division. After his discharge from the Army in 1946 he lived in Chetopa, Kansas until 1948 when he moved to Oregon. He was employed at Schmitt Steel Company as a tool and die maker for 36 years, retiring in 1987. Over the years, Gene enjoyed fishing and camping with his family. He later took up square dancing, eventually becoming a caller for the Oaky Doaks Square Dance Club in Oak Grove, Oregon. Later he spent much of his time attending and videotaping his grandsons’ high school basketball games. He was also a big fan of the Portland Trailblazers. In more recent years, he spent most Tuesday afternoons doing Bible study with his wife and daughter, until suffering a light stroke in December 2013. Gene enjoyed working in the yard. He also loved to tell jokes to whoever would listen. He got a kick out of introducing himself and Beulah as “Brad Pitt and my wife, Angelina.” Gene was recently diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoma and passed away peacefully a few weeks later with loved ones by his side. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Beulah, daughters Jacque Wilson (Don), Pattie Lawrence, grandsons Joe Wilson (Nancy), Tim Wilson and great-granddaughters Lindsey Wilson and Ashley Wilson. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at Valley Memorial Park in Hillsboro, Oregon. Memorial donations may be made to: Edwards Center, P.O. Box 6269, Aloha, OR 97007 (www.edwardscenter.org). Service Information