Sep 07, 2022

Clifford Emery Lawrence (1923 - 2022)

Posted Sep 07, 2022 4:55 PM

Clifford Emery Lawrence was born June 12, 1923 to emery and Opal Lawrence. He was raised on the family farm northwest of Rushville. He attended school in Rushville and after graduating, he left the United States to serve in World War II as a medic. He was stationed in the Philippines and Okinawa. When the war ended, he watched the surrender plane fly into Okinawa.

The day that he returned home, he was invited to go to a dance and he danced with the love of his life, Donna Westlake. They married July 15, 1947 and her wedding dress was made of silk that Cliff had brought back from Japan. They celebrated 75 years of marriage this year.

Cliff was a carpenter and proud of the places in the area that he helped build.

His hobby was restoring antique cars. He would build them and Donna would do the upholstery work. They would visit their many friends that also had cars. They would travel to swap meets and if Donna couldn’t go, Cliff would go with friends. He had some wonderful trips. His son-in-law Jiggs got involved working on the cars and learning from Cliff. Cliff and Donna traveled to Canada several times a year to visit collectors of cars.

Cliff decided he would start his own business building the wood car bodies for antique car collectors. He did this until he retired.

He is survived by his wife Donna; his son Gary (Becky) Lawrence, his daughter Judie (Lewis) McKenny; his grandchildren Shauna Coupens, Shay (Terry) Knapp and Brian Lawrence; his great grandchildren Jacie and Keegan Coupens; his brother and sister-in-law Elwin and Doris Lawrence.

Preceding him in death are his parents Opal and Emery; his granddaughter Shannon McKenny, brother Ralph Lawrence and sister-in-law Marilyn Lawrence; sister Ruth Hindman and brother-in-law Bob Hindman; nieces Donna Jean Hindman and Carol Hall; and Nephew Jerry Lawrence.

Graveside services with Military Rites will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Hay Springs Cemetery with reception to follow at the Hay Springs United Methodist Church after the services.