Winnifred Claire (Temple) Lawrence, age 82, died peacefully on September 5, 2016 at her home in Spring, Texas after a brief struggle with cancer.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Kenneth W. Tidmore, pastor officiating. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.
Winnie was born April 11, 1934 on her family farm in Sedan, New Mexico, the daughter of Leonard Percival Temple and Ola Ruth Pogue Temple. In 1947, Winnie and her mother left the farm and moved to Clayton, New Mexico where she attended Clayton High School. She excelled academically and socially, graduating as Salutatorian as well as being chosen Football Queen of the Class of 1952. In 1952, Winnie married Ronald Lawrence and they were happily married for almost 60 years. They had four children and lived in many places including New Mexico, Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana and even a stint in Douala, Cameroon on the west coast of Africa. They settled back in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and then migrated to Spring, a suburb of Houston, Texas after Hurricane Katrina. Every new location was seen as an adventure, and she created a positive atmosphere and welcoming home for everyone to come back to no matter where they landed. Winnie was a member of Klein United Methodist Church in Spring, Texas. This is where she met her new card-playing lunch buddies. In her later years, she enjoyed family and friends, especially her grandchildren and her beloved cat, Lucy. As everyone would attest, she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, loyal friend, great cook and pretty mean card and domino player.
SURVIVORS:
Winnie is survived by her four children, Craig Lawrence of Victoria, Texas; Rhonda Lawrence of Joplin, Missouri; Terry Melancon of Nederland, Texas and Rebecca Edwards of Spring, Texas as well as nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
