Raymond LAWRENCE
Raymond LAWRENCE
Raymond LAWRENCE
Raymond LAWRENCE
Raymond LAWRENCE
Raymond LAWRENCE

Obituary of Raymond LAWRENCE

February 26, 1928 — Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England

May 24, 2021 — Calgary, Alberta

Raymond (Ray) Lawrence of Calgary, AB passed away peacefully on Monday, May 24, 2021 at the age of 93 years of natural causes.

Ray was born in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England and came from a large family of nine children.  His mother Louisa Lawrence (nee List) died in 1939 and his sister Amy took the mothers role.  The Allies celebrated victory over Japan on 15th August 1945.  He said that he was 17 years old at a local celebration with friends and neighbours around a large bonfire.  A bobby (British policeman) came up and asked him if he was Raymond Lawrence and then informed him that his father had passed away.  Ray was the last surviving child being predeceased by four brothers and four sisters.  He learned to work hard when he was young and his first job was as a butcher boy delivering meat by bicycle.

Ray was a great cook, his experience began when he worked in the British Army Air Corps starting in April 1946, just after the end of WWII.  He cooked for hundreds of troops in the Middle East (Egypt) and later in Austria.  He was so proficient that he was put in charge of cooking for the British general staff for Austria where he finished out his term of duty.  Ray, fondly known to everyone cooked many of the family dinners.  Family and guests always remembered his roast beef, roast potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings with gravy.

He married Anne Lawrence on March 20, 1954 after they met at a dance.  He was such a good dancer that all the girls wanted to dance with him.  Ballroom dancing and dancing in general was to become a big part of their lives and they always took the opportunity to dance whenever they could.  He was a great support to Anne while she ran her dance business for twenty-five years teaching mostly children and teenagers.

As Ray and Anne began a family, they decided that they wanted religion in their life and started looking for a church to join.  After visiting a few they were not impressed with what they found.  One day two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on their door and they started taking discussions and investigating the church.  After about nine months Anne was ready to join but Ray was still hesitant.  Then Ray had a back injury and while laid up in bed, his wife who was already wanting to be baptized, gave Ray the Book of Mormon to read in bed, it was shortly after that they both joined the church in 1959.  They would remain active in the church throughout their lives.

In April 1966 they arrived in Canada with their two children Stephen and Heather to start a new adventure.

Ray loved his work as a custodian for the Calgary School Board and more especially while he worked in the elementary schools until he retired in 1992.  He was well known for being fun and active and participating in school activities and skits often dressing up in costumes to amuse and encourage the children.  One of the great blessings was that often his grandchildren attended the school where he worked.

After retirement both Ray and Anne enjoyed being members of the Greater Forest Lawn Senior Citizens Society group where they acted in many plays which they really enjoyed.  They also continued to love dancing and learned a new form by joining the Revellers Square Dance club.

He was an excellent gardener and worked many hours throughout the spring and summer growing many wonderful flowers.  Ray had a large garden and would work day after day sometimes almost to exhaustion to make sure it looked great.  When he went on vacations to Mexico for three months during the winters, he would even help the property owners with gardening where they rented a small apartment.  He did not like to be idle even on vacation.

Raymond was predeceased by his beloved wife of 61 years, Anne Lawrence on May 22, 2015.

Raymond is survived by his son Stephen Lawrence (Carolyn Lawrence) and granddaughter Jennifer Lawrence, grandson Curtis Brothers, granddaughter Raeanne Lawrence-Bates (Matthew Bates) with great-grandchildren Andrew Matthew Bates and Raymond Lawrence Bates and granddaughter Louisa Perry (Josh Perry).

Raymond is survived by his daughter Heather Lawrence Thomas (Dennis Copeland), granddaughter Angela Murdoch (Jason Fehr) with great-granddaughter Elsie Fehr, grandson Sean Murdoch (Michelle Murdoch) with great-granddaughter Malia Murdoch and great-grandson Wylde Murdoch, and granddaughter Desirae Durand (Jordan Durand).

Ray will be missed by family and friends on both sides of the pond.

The family is very grateful to the staff on the 7th floor Memory Lane of the Bethany Care Centre for their kind and loving manner over the several years Ray spent in their capable hands.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Raymond’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com

hr>



Share Video Condolence


Share Your Memory of
Raymond