Claude Lawrence
Funeral services for Claude Lawrence, 91, West Plains, Missouri, will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 11, 2012 at First Baptist Church, West Plains, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Lawrence died at 4:00 AM, Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at West Vue Nursing Center. He was born February 16, 1920, at Elijah, Missouri, to Alfred and Mae Butram Lawrence. On April 20, 1939, he was married to Thermal Louise Mustion, who preceded him in death on October 5, 1963. On April 12, 1964, he was married to Jo Ann Hufstedler. Claude was self-employed for over 60 years as a farmer, raising registered and commercial beef cattle and living on the same family farm for over 65 years. He also passed his love of farm life on to his sons and grandchildren. Claude was an avid outdoorsman, loving to turkey and deer hunt and fish with Jo Ann. Each summer, he and Jo Ann raised at least three gardens, producing vegetables, strawberries, watermelon, and cantaloupe, which he loved to share with family and friends. He sold farm machinery for H.H. Dold and later Henderson Implement Company. Claude then sold cars for Woodworth & Cochran Ford Dealership and then for Floyd Bell Ford at Mountain View, Missouri. The last car that he sold for Ford was to his father-in-law, Earl Mustion, in 1958. A limestone quarry was started on his farm in the early 1960’s and is currently operated by Doss & Harper Stone Company. He had been a board member for Renfrow School, M.F.A., and was a founding member of the Mo-Ark Hereford Association. He had been a member of First Baptist Church for over 50 years.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Lawrence, of the family home; three children, Jim Lawrence, wife, Dianne, Couch, Missouri, Eddie Lawrence, wife, Vickie, West Plains, Missouri and Vickie Hadley, husband, Jeff, West Plains, Missouri; one daughter-in-law, Mary Ann Lawrence, West Plains, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Jeff Lawrence, wife, Sandy, Couch, Missouri, Jayson Lawrence, Caulfield, Missouri, Nita Cawvey, husband, Scott, West Plains, Missouri, Nancy Foulke, husband, Bob, Cassville, Missouri, Jerrod Lawrence, Myrtle, Missouri, Mariah Lawrence, West Plains, Missouri and Jesse Hadley, Weatherford, Oklahoma; seven great-grandchildren, Jake Lawrence, wife, Mindy, Thayer, Missouri, Sara Sorrell, husband, Anthony, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, Garrett Lawrence, Caulfield, Missouri, Scotty Cawvey, West Plains, Missouri, Ann-Renee’ Cawvey, West Plains, Missouri, Evan Foulke, Cassville, Missouri and Jaysie Lawrence, Caulfield, Missouri and his first great-great-grandchild, Mya Lawrence, due February 27, 2012; one sister, Virginia Riley Guilliams, husband, Bill, West Plains, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Don Hufstedler, wife, Marianne, and Joe Hufstedler, wife, Shirley, both of Alton, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Susie Van Camp, Alton, Missouri and Ruth Mustion, Pasadena, Texas; and a host of extended family and friends.
His parents, first wife, one son, Robert Dwight (Bob) Lawrence, one grandson, Bobby Joe Lawrence, one great-granddaughter, Monte’ Elease Lawrence, one daughter-in-law, Ann Lawrence, one brother, Walter Ray Lawrence, two sisters, Ethel Troutwine and Gladys McKee, one sister-in-law, Lyndal Lightfoot, two brothers-in-law Dwight Mustion and Cecil Riley, precede him in death.
Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 PM, Friday, February 10, 2012, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Gideon Bible Society, West Vue Nursing Center or charity of choice may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.