Gene Ann Lawrence Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Gene Ann (Mathews) Lawrence, daughter of Harold and Wilma (Reeves) Mathews was born on November 12, 1928 at Grant City, Missouri and passed from this life on June 2, 2022 at Tahlequah, OK at the age of 93. Gene Ann married Charles Ernest (Ernie) Lawrence on September 19, 1947 in Grant City, MO. They had three sons and one daughter. Gene Ann attended Bacone College and Northeastern State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in education and a masters degree in counseling. In 1949, Ernie was ordained into the Ministry and Gene Ann served faithfully by his side. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Tahlequah for 45 years. She taught Sunday School, VBS, and was a member of the choir. She loved children and is fondly remembered by many as “Grandma Gum.” They served as house parents at Murrow Indian Children’s home in Muskogee. Gene Ann was an educator, teaching high school French and English. She later joined the staff at NSU as an administrator and financial aid counselor where she retired in 1989. After retirement she served in the Tahlequah City Hospital Auxiliary and in 2009 received The Hearts of Gold Award “Recognizing Individual Service Driven by Love of Community.” Gene Ann and Ernie were members of the USMC WWII 2nd Armored Amphibian Battalion Association and attended reunions all over the country, hosting three in Tahlequah. Gene Ann loved people and touched many lives. She was passionate about sharing her faith and the love of Christ with all who crossed her path. Her family was the joy of her life. She will be dearly missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Gene Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ernie; her sons Larry and David, and daughter Lonna; a granddaughter Jeanie Marie Lawrence and a great-great grandson Theodore Jay Riner. She is survived by a loving family which includes sisters Mary Nevels of Houston, TX and Gelene Marcum of Sheridan, MO; brother Bud Mathews and wife, Pat, of Garden City, KS; her son and daughter-in-law, Mathew and Janet Lawrence of Park Hill, OK; daughters-in-law Walthena Lawrence Thurman (Larry) of Shawnee, OK; Janet Lawrence (David) of Moore, OK; son-in-law Larry Kennedy (Lonna) of White Hall, AR; and 12 grandchildren- Dr. DJ and Lori Riner, Kevin and Sarah Willis, Jeni Ryan, Lisa Stierwalt, Trey and Erika Golightly, Brian and Ann Willis, Major Jason and Memory Taylor, Matt and Deanne Porter, Darron and Adonna McCord, David Lawrence, Charles and Angie Lawrence, and 37 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. Many nieces, nephews, and other relatives survive her. Her legacy of loving and serving others lives on.

Gene Ann Lawrence

November 12, 1928 - June 2, 2022

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