Ralph Franklin Lawrence

On Saturday, August 2, 2014, Mr. Ralph Lawrence passed away peacefully at the Bethany Meadows Continuing Care Centre in Camrose, Alberta. Ralph will be missed by his children, Gary (Vicky), Brian (Carol), Bruce (Sandra) and Dennis (Beverly); his daughter-in-law Laura (Lyle); his seven surviving grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law, Doris (Don) Allen of Campbell River, B.C., as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is predeceased by his wife Helen Lawrence (nee Manson), daughter, Sherilyn Lee Lawrence, sons Barry Dale and Lyle Ellis Lawrence, grandsons Brian Jr. and Cole Lawrence and his sister Mrs. Hazel Coulbourn. Ralph was born to Cyrus Franklin (Frank) Lawrence and Violet Etta (nee Smith) in their farm house located in the Partridge Hill District on February 13, 1920. His sister Hazel followed July 18, 1921. Frank Lawrence passed away on February 23, 1927 leaving his widow Violet with two young children and a half section of farm to manage. This was the horse and buggy days and farming was very laborious. Violet managed with hired men until Ralph felt confident enough to take over the farm at the “grand ole age” of fifteen (circa 1935) in the middle of the Great Depression. When pressed by the neighbourhood ladies as to which of their fair daughters he was going to marry – he skilfully dodged the question with “I am waiting for a pretty Swedish girl to come along.” Much to his surprise just such a girl took on employment at his Grandpa and Grandma Smith’s farm. Ralph and Helen were married November 25, 1942. They brought seven children into the world on the Frank and Violet homestead which Ralph inherited from his mother, but alas not all without sadness. Baby Sherilyn passed away at age two months, Barry at 18 years and Lyle at age 59. Ralph and Helen retired from the farm in 2006 and resided in Fort Saskatchewan. Helen passed away on April 22, 2008. Ralph lived on in Fort Saskatchewan until February 2014 at which time he moved to Camrose for extended care services. At the time of his passing Ralph was 94 years. The family invites you to come celebrate Ralph’s legacy at the Partridge Hill United Church on August 11, 2014 at 1:00 PM. Refreshments will be served in the Partridge Hill Community Hall nearby. We would like to extend special thanks to Capital Region Home Care staff who cared for both Helen and Ralph at Southfort-Bend in Fort Saskatchewan, and the Continuing Care staff at Bethany Meadows in Camrose. Cindy and Gord Kadatz Managing Directors

Ralph Franklin Lawrence

February 13, 1920 - August 2, 2014