Lawrence Dwight Surface
Lawrence Dwight Surface
Funeral services for Lawrence Dwight Surface, 86, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 18, 2022 at China Union Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Surface passed away at 11:47 p.m., Friday, November 11, 2022, at Ozarks Medical Center.
He was born November 21, 1935, in Douglas County, Missouri, south of Cabool near the little town of Ann, which no longer is a town or post office. Lawrence received his early education in rural schools of Douglas County, Missouri, Iowa and West Plains, Missouri, graduating in 1953. He attended Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) in West Plains and Springfield, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in education in 1974 and completed a Master’s Degree in 1983. Mr. Surface taught sixth grade in the West Plains R-7 district for twenty-three years. On January 11, 1955, he was married at China Union Church near West Plains, to Joyce Lee Eades. Mr. Surface was drafted into the United States Army in September of 1958; he served in the Medical Corp and was honorably discharged in September of 1960. Lawrence was saved and baptized in Kellerton, Iowa at the age of nine years. He served many years as a church board member, Sunday school teacher, superintendent and Bible camp director. He looked forward to going to work each morning as a sixth grade teacher. He served on Glenwood school board for several years stirring within him an interest in going to college and becoming the teacher he was. Lawrence was a builder, plumber, mechanic and a wonderful daddy and grandpa. He usually had a beautiful garden and loved sharing his vegetables with friends, neighbors and even strangers. Lawrence liked to travel extensively in the United States and Canada, and avoided the cold weather by wintering in Texas; he enjoyed fishing, camping, farming and especially being grandpa to his five grandchildren, something he never got to experience with his grandparents. His horses were his pets. His greatest desire was to meet all of his family in Heaven one day.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Surface; one son, Stacey Surface; one daughter-in-law, Kaye; five grandchildren, Jessica, Logan, Karissa, Cordell and Landen; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Gayle Surface; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
His parents, B. L. (Bud) and Gladys Surface, one son, Calvin Lynn Surface, two brothers, Burton C. Surface and Gerald E. Surface, one sister, Leota Eades, his maternal grandparents, John Calvin and Viola Denison and his paternal grandparents, Samuel E. and Litha Surface, preceded him in death.
Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
patty nichols
November 14, 2022 @ 12:31 pm
Lawerence was absolutley one of the sweetest men
we will sure miss him coming to Burton Creek Lab
Our thoughts and prayers are with Shirley and the family
from the Lab girls
Vivian Mitchell
November 15, 2022 @ 5:38 pm
Joyce, I am so sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family now and in the days to come.
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
November 14, 2022 @ 2:36 pm
Joyce, Stacey, Kaye, & Surface Families,
Our Deepest Sympathy to all of you on the passing of Lawrence. He was an Excellent Math Teacher and I enjoyed having him in 6th Grade at Central. He was a kind, caring, Christian individual with a wonderful personality. Also, he always had a smile and a hi for those he knew and cared about. He will be missed! During this time we will be keeping all of you in our daily prayers/thoughts and may God comfort, encourage, strengthen, and give each of you peace. May God bless all of you.
In Christian Love,
Norris/Ivene Cozort
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
Sheila Falwell
November 14, 2022 @ 11:30 pm
My deepest condolences to the family. I had Mr Surface in school. Over the years he would always take the time for a quick visit and a kind word. Such a sweet and beautiful man.
Sheila Falwell
Linda & Ron Hayes
November 15, 2022 @ 8:51 am
Prayers for the family of Mr. Surface. I know you all will have wonderfully happy memories of this exceptionally good man that will help you through your sorrow.
Back in the late 80’s, my daughter struggled in school and there was a teacher who was very unkind to her, and refused to help her when she was asked.
Mr. Surface was one of her teachers, and I stopped by to talk to him and asked him if he could just maybe look over her shoulder to be sure she was understanding her studies. He was very kind and he did watch and help. He was amazing and I have never forgotten him.
Melinda DeShazo Brenton
November 15, 2022 @ 11:55 am
Joyce, Stacey, Kaye and Families,
I’m so sadened to hear of Mr. Lawrence ‘s passing. I always continued to call him Mister by choice after I was older. I learned my Mom and Dad knew you both and loved you all, and he was just one of those people who earned the respect. He always made you smile and I know that he is in heaven reminiscing with all of his family and friends right now.I hope that brings you comfort to know that he is where he wants to be.
Lance Brown
November 15, 2022 @ 2:09 pm
Mrs Surface and family
Mr. Surface was an amazing teacher with a kind heart and quick smile.
Prayers for peace during this difficult time.
Wanita Breedlove
November 16, 2022 @ 8:25 am
My sympathies to you all. The world has lost a great man. He was my sixth grade teacher. That was the year we had the big snow on for Easter and we had to go to school into June on Saturday’s. I did not miss a day of school that year. He has always been and always will be my favorite teacher. He was the first male teacher I had and he was the best. I will never forget him. Prayers to the family.
Carolyn Wright
November 16, 2022 @ 8:32 am
We love you all and prayers for you all. Harry and I loved our visits with you both. Lawrence was always the same…truly a gentleman. Will be missed. ?
Dustin W Mahan
November 16, 2022 @ 9:23 pm
Joyce and family, I’m sorry for the loss of your husband.
Rich & Linda Moore
November 19, 2022 @ 3:42 pm
Joyce and family, Linda and I send our condolences on Lawrence’s passing. We knew him primarily through our mutual support of the Bible Camp. We appreciated his faithful and capable service to the Lord’s work through the Camp.
Amber Cherry
November 26, 2022 @ 4:14 pm
So very sorry to hear about your loss. Mr Surface was a wonderful teacher. He was kind to all of his students & always had a smile on his face. He will be missed by all who knew him.