Shirley Jo Thompson Lawrence was born on September 14, 1928, in Olathe, Kansas, and eventually moved with her family to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where her parents settled permanently. After graduating Central High School, she attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK, where she met her husband, Bud Lawrence. They were married on September 4, 1948 and enjoyed 68 years together. Shirley died on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at Mt. Vernon Hospital. She is now in Heaven with her parents, Lawrence and Ermal Thompson, her older brother, Lawrence Thompson, Jr., her oldest son, Michael Lawrence, who died in July 2004, her grandson, Mark “Buddy” D’Angelo, who died in May 2010, and her granddaughter, Christina Lawrence, who died in June 2015. Shirley is survived by her husband, George H. “Bud” Lawrence, Sr., her son, George H. “Jud” Lawrence, Jr., her two daughters, Linda Lawrence and Amy Lawrence, her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and John Roberts, her sister-in-law, Peggy Osborn, her nieces and nephews, Terry Roberts, Sherry Roberts, Cathy Roberts Hammond, Lawrence Thompson, III, Mary Kay Sandstrum Shepherd and Steve Sandstrum. Shirley was a very talented artist. She first attempted painting in 1971 when a friend invited her to join an oil painting class. Eventually, it was watercolor that captured her full enthusiasm. An admirer commented “No matter what you paint, you seem to give people a feeling of sunshine.” She went on to open Lawrence Gallery in Old Town Alexandria. Shirley had a gift that she chose to unwrap and share with those around her. In doing so, she demonstrated that the most important ingredient for reaching a goal is to enjoy the process of getting there. She was kind, spiritual and generous, a wonderful mother and grandmother, a loving wife, sister, friend and a creative soul. She will be missed by many.

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