Laurine Lawrence, 87
Published 5:51 pm Sunday, February 3, 2013
Born: July 10, 1925
Died: Feb. 2, 2013
Laurine Lawrence, 87, of Dowagiac, was born July 10, 1925, in Alma, the youngest of 10 children of Albert and Ruby (Swan) Knapp. Laurine graduated from Alma High School in 1942. In February of 1946, she married William Wilson and had three children, Gaye, Dennis and Marcia.
Lawrence
Laurine and Nolan Lawrence were married on July 3, 1957, in Dowagiac and had three children, Donna, Julie and Suzanne.
Laurine was a talented artist and member of the Dowagiac Art Guild for many years. She volunteered at the Rose Gallery and participated in local art shows in the park. She also volunteered as a 4-H leader for many years. Her interests included drawing, painting and quilting. Laurine was a member of the Federated Covenant Church. She worked from home creating oil-tinted portraits from black-and-white studio photos for several area professional photographers, and also applied her calligraphy talents to certificates for local businesses. Laurine and Nolan raised rainbow trout on their farm in Silver Creek Township, where they also raised swans.
Laurine is survived by her son, Dennis (Myra) Wilson, of Edwardsburg; her daughters, Gaye (Jerry) Prillwitz, of Dowagiac, Marcia (Donald) Moore, of Edwardsburg, Julie (Jerry) Koch, of St. Joseph, Suzanne (Mike) Ernzen, of Granger, Ind.; two stepsons, William (Judy) Lawrence and Thomas (Lynne) Lawrence, both of Dowagiac; a sister, June Parrot, of Traverse City; 15 grandchildren; and seven great- grandchildren. She passed away on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at the Timbers of Cass County. She is preceded in death by her husband, Nolan Lawrence, in 2000, and a daughter, Donna Laney, in 2002.
Her family will gather with friends on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Yazel & Clark Chapel and again on Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Federated Covenant Church, where her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday led by Pastor Rob Lowe. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to the Federated Covenant Church. Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Laurine at www.yazel-clark.com.
