Evelyn Estelle Lawrence

Evelyn Lawrence Evelyn Estelle Johnson Lawrence, age 88, of Gatesville passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at a Temple, Hospital. She had been in failing health for several years. Graveside services are scheduled for 1:30 PM, Friday April 24, 2009 at Restland Cemetery in Gatesville, Texas with Rev. Willie Clarke and Rev. Robert Cavanaugh officiating. The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 PM Thursday at Scott’s Funeral Home. She was born December 31, 1920 in Gatesville, Texas. Her early childhood was spent in Oglesby, McGregor and Walnut Spring, Texas, but her family returned to Gatesville and she graduated from Gatesville High School in 1938. On August 14, 1938 she and Desmond Duncan Lawrence were married in Gatesville, Texas. They made Gatesville their home and lived there their entire lives. She took great pride in knowing that she was descended from four early Coryell County settlers, James Read Saunders, Riley Green Hampton, Stephen Williamson and Andrew Jackson Johnson. Her interest in family history lead her to collect and record extensive information and preserve this information for her children. Other interests and hobbies included gardening, landscaping and bird watching. She was an excellent cook and specialized in homemade candy. She was also a skilled seamstress and made many beautiful household decorations as well as much of the family clothing. Her most avid pursuit was golf. She and her husband both enjoyed the game well into their senior years. She was active in the Gatesville Country Club’s Ladies Golf Association and was one of the first Girl Scout leaders in Gatesville. She has been a life long member of the First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Minnie Lucille Saunders Johnson and Gussie Gibson Johnson, a sister, Doris Johnson, and her husband, D. D. “Pee Wee” Lawrence. Survivors include her sister, Helen Johnson Huckins of Beaumont; daughter, Sherry Lawrence of Gatesville; son, Larry Lawrence and wife Claudette of Waco. She is also survived by grandchildren, David Lawrence of Brenham and Susan Lawrence Bennett and husband Barry of Riesel; great grandchildren, Chase Lawrence of Brenham, Kylie Bennett and Colton Bennett both of Riesel; niece, Kay Huckins Goad and husband Mark of Lumberton; nephews, Jim Huckins of San Antonio and Tracy Huckins of Houston; and great nieces, Brooke Goad Martinez and husband Trey of Lumberton and Nikki Goad of Beaumont. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Society or First United Methodist Church of Gatesville.