Kemp G. Lawrence's Obituary
Services for Kemp G. Lawrence, 78, of Longview, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2009 in the Rader Funeral Home Chapel.
Mr. Lawrence passed away Saturday, October 31, 2009.
Mr. Lawrence was born on May 7, 1931, in Winfield, Texas, to Claude and Nona Mae Smith Lawrence. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1949 and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. After his military service, he went to work for the Cotton Belt Railroad and rode the rodeo circuit. In 1955, after marrying Patti Geers, he began a 37 year work career with SWEPCO in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, retiring as Division Operations Superintendent in 1992.
After retirement, he spent his time chronicling family history by publishing three books. He also loved to travel with Patti in their RV visiting historical sites all over the U.S. and Canada.
Mr. Lawrence was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He faithfully promoted the support of the Shriners Children's Hospitals.
A loving husband, father and grandfather, Mr. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Allen Lawrence, and two sisters, Dessie Maxton and Wanda Nell Narramore. He is survived by his loving wife, Patti Geers Lawrence; daughters and sons-in-law Betsy and Butch Lanclos of League City, TX; Nancy and Buck Otis of Longview; and son and daughter-in-law Joey and Suzanne Lawrence of Longview. His grandchildren are Aaron Lanclos, Jared Lanclos, Bronson Goolsby, Shelby Lawrence, Kaiti Lawrence, Jacob Lawrence and Joshua Kemp Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence is also survived by two sisters, Christine Hutson of Mt. Pleasant, Texas and Lillian Woodard of Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family members and friends.
The family will receive friends at Radar Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2009.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital-Dallas.
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