Robert “Bob” Lawrence of Clayton, New Mexico
August 12, 1933 – January 30, 2021
On January 30, 2021, beloved husband and father, and long time Clayton resident Robert K. Lawrence, age 87, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, after a long battle with heart disease.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 27th, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Clayton, New Mexico at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery. We know with the times at hand, that traveling is not easy. For those of you that cannot attend, the First Baptist Church in Clayton will hold a Facebook live feed.
Most people will remember him as “Bob”. Robert graduated in 1951 from Clayton High School as an all-state athlete and shortly after served our country in Korea and Okinawa at the very end of the Korean conflict. He was active in the community with the Jaycees and Lion’s Club, as a little-league softball coach, and for the majority of his life as a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Clayton. He loved singing in the church choir as well as other specials. He also was active in the local chapter of The Gideons International and was a member of the Clayton prison ministry for many years. Many younger people in Clayton also will remember the youth program he and Ruth hosted at their home. As a young man, Robert followed his father Richard into the automotive body repair business running the Deluxe Body Shop. In the late 1960s, Robert switched careers and worked at the Union County Insurance Agency for nearly 20 years. Bob also enjoyed providing Clayton Yellowjacket High School football statistical wrap-ups on KLMX along with announcers Wayne Spradlin and Grover Jones. After marrying Ruth, he helped run Ladies Choice Laundry. Robert and Ruth also managed the Sunset Motel for many years until it was transformed into the Kokopelli Lodge where he worked until retirement. He and his son Russell managed the Blade Clinic for several years, sharpening and repairing the town’s mowers and such. Bob, his Dad, and children were continually found helping with odd jobs, painting, deconstruction, shingling, etc. throughout the community. Never one to be idle, Bob worked at the Clayton Housing Authority for several years even after “retirement.” He also assisted local bookkeepers with tax preparation for many, many years and sold real estate as an associate to Robert Woods. Robert’s last paying job at age 80 was driving the community van for the Golden Spread. In addition to years of employment, Robert worked hard with Ruth keeping a beautiful home and park-like yard where many club picnics, weddings, church gatherings, and other community functions were held for decades. He will be greatly missed. Robert is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ruth E. Lawrence, his son Richard Lawrence and wife Pam of Arizona, his daughter Patti Higgins and her husband Robert of Oklahoma, his daughters Renee Kalm and husband Tom, and Brenda Aragon and husband Don, and daughters-in-law Karena Stewart of New Mexico and Lori Jensen Lawrence of Utah; 14 grandchildren – Ben Lawrence, Emily Kitchen and husband Tyler, Katherine Barnes and husband Mike, Kristopher Lawrence, Kelsey Lawrence, Kristen Higgins, Michael Higgins, Cara Higgins, Charles Kalm, and wife Pavlina, Katrina Richards and husband Mathew, Karl Kalm, Cory Kalm and wife Sarah, Devin Aragon, and Bryan Aragon; as well as 10 great-grandchildren, Kale, Keelan, Kiera, Karson, Tomas, Levi, Kaleb, Micah, Michael, and Jax, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Robert was preceded in death by his mother Lorraine, father Richard, brother Ronald, sister Shirley, sister Mary Jean, son Russell, and his first wife Amanda.
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