Lucille Cecilia Lawrence

Lucille Cecilia Lawrence, age 88, of Merlin, died March 26, 2016 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Lucille was born October 17, 1927 in Allen, Louisiana. For 45 years she worked as a hygienist/manager in the dental industry. In 1994 she moved from San Jose, California to the Grants Pass area.

She was active at St. Anne Catholic Church since 1994; a member of the Emblem Club; a member and past secretary of T.O.P.S.; and was active for many years at the Vitality Center where she enjoyed dancing.

Her hobbies included sewing, reading, dancing, water skiing, fishing, snow skiing and camping. She was enthusiastic, loved life, had a lot of class, was a hard worker and an inspiration to all.

Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Harty and Linda Welding and husband, Bill of San Jose, California and Rita Romaine and husband, Robert of Lewiston, California; a sister, Adele Smith and husband, Hal of Merlin, Oregon; a brother, Robert Cortinez of Little Rock, Arkansas; two cousins, Gloria Jean Tuminello and Peggy Hawkins, both of Shreveport, Louisiana; her life companion, Theodore Frost of Merlin, Oregon; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a niece, Debbie McConnel of Ceres, California; and a nephew, Steven Gonzales of Pennsylvania;

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack William Lawrence on March 7, 1999.

In Memory of My Mother

Words can not describe all the love I hold inside for my mother…

She was a beautiful person inside and out. She had so much compassion to give and always took pride in how she looked. My mother had so much enthusiasm for life. She was fifty-five when she taught me how to snow-ski. She was so much fun to be with. We were a very close family. My mother was our foundation. Her favorite holiday was Easter Sunday because we were always together. She would always cook a big dinner for us all. She had so much energy and always worked very hard in the kitchen. We shared so much laughter and fun together. “We had so much love.

My mother enjoyed life. We would go camping, water-skiing, fishing and boating as a family. Usually, mother would experience something eventful. There was the time she floated down the river and couldn’t stop; there was a time when she was face to face with a gigantic bear at Yosemite, there was a time when she was dangling high in the air on the ski lift chair, there was a time she was standing in her nightgown by the furnace and she caught on fire and one time she was fishing a foot away from a coiled rattlesnake. She was a survivor. Always exciting to be with, as she brought so much fun and laughter. Growing up with my mother and father were the best years of my life.

My mother was extremely religious to her Catholic faith. She made sure all her daughters received every sacrament. We never missed church on Sunday. My mother and her strong Catholic faith were the thread that held us so tightly together.

My mother was a very strong woman. She stood firm on what she believed and always showed class. She had many friends that adored her. I will really miss my mother. I am so fortunate to be her daughter.

My mother was all of these…

Caring, compassionate, thoughtful, energetic, enthusiastic for life, outgoing, fun to be with, always stylish and took pride in her appearance, had many good friends, she kept in touch with all her friends, and relatives.

She loved to water-ski, snow-ski, camp, and fish. She was very involved and active with her church. My mother was a devoted Catholic her entire life and raised her children in the Catholic faith.

She was very strong-willed and outspoken.

She attended many social gatherings and was involved with many community organizations.

She loved to dance. She loved to read. She loved going to plays and movies.

My mother had a lot of class and social status. My mother was a hard worker. My mother would sacrifice and give to others. My mother could handle difficult times. My mother loved to bake apple pies and sew for her children. She made all of our clothes for school.

Extremely devoted! Knowing her was loving her. To her, you were “my girl” or “my boy.” She always inspired us and gave us direction in time of need and throughout life.

Oh how she loved her sister, Dale! They were inseparable throughout life. They did everything together.

A funeral mass was held at St. Anne Catholic Church. A committal will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 18, 2016 at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.