William Lawrence

William Herbert "Bill" Lawrence, 91 year old Nowata resident, passed from this life Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Jane Phillips Nowata Health Center. He was born June 13, 1922, in Wichita, Kansas to Edlia Bert and Josephine (Clark) Lawrence. Bill was a 1941 graduate of Nowata High School and on December 31, 1948 he married the love of his life Betty Dean Ames, in Bentonville, Arkansas. They enjoyed 64 years of marriage. Bill was a rodeo cowboy and was a member of the first Rodeo Cowboys' Association (RCA), which later became the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys' Association). Bill started and ran a dairy in Nowata County for many years and later turned his attention to raising and racing horses. He enjoyed ranching and taking care of the farm but where he really excelled was in his love for his wife, children, grandchildren and other family. His heart was filled with joy as he was able to teach his grandchildren and other youngsters to rope, and ride horses. Bill was a member of the Nowata First Church of God. He is one of the last of the old cowboys and can now rest in peace in Cowboy Heaven. Preceding Mr. Lawrence in death are his parents, Bert and Josephine Lawrence, brothers Arville and Bucky Lawrence, and a great granddaughter, Jeanann West. Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; four children, William Edlia Lawrence, of Nowata, Betty Ann Johnson and husband John, of Bixby, Mary Jo Seaton, of Vinita, Virginia Hamilton and husband Hank, of Dewey; ten grandchildren, Amy Reeder, Bert Lawrence, Bunyan Johnson, Julie Remey, Shannon Bassett Cowden, Shadrick Seaton, Shane Seaton, Billy Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, and Jeffery Hamilton; eighteen great grandchildren; one sister Joyce Reeder, of Claremore, Oklahoma; many other relatives and a host of friends.

Visitation Details

Monday, June 24th, 2013 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013 9:00am - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Thursday, June 27th, 2013 10:00am, First Church of God - Nowata

Interment Details

Memorial Park - Nowata