Gladys Lawrence

Keota- Gladys Vivian Lawrence, 96, died Monday, September 14, 2015. Mrs Lawrence was a resident of the Solon Care Center.
Mrs. Lawrence was born January 22, 1919 near Prairie Hill, Missouri the youngest child of Arthur Evan and Viola Naylor Ward. She graduated from Prairie Hill High School in 1937. On January 20, 1941 she married George Lawrence in Huntsville, Missouri. They resided in Moberly and Prairie Hill, Missouri until their move to Iowa in 1952. They lived in the South English community for several years and lived in rural Keota since 1956. In 2014 Gladys moved to an assisted living facility in Iowa City. In the summer of 2015, she moved to the Solon Care Center.

Gladys was a homemaker as well as having worked outside of the home. She worked in a candy shop/lunch counter in Moberly in the late 1930's where she met George. She worked at Noel's Pharmacy in North English in the 1950's. In 1963, she began working at Owens Brush in Iowa City. It was known as Oral B when she retired in 1987. Gladys was a member of the Kinross Christian Church, where she taught Sunday School and belonged to the Social Circle Women's Club. Gladys enjoyed bowling and was a member of the bowling team at Owens Brush and Oral B. She and George enjoyed dancing. They were part of a group of square dancers that promoted the North English Centennial in 1954. They also enjoyed dancing to the big band sound.

Gladys is survived by: a son and daughter-in-law Tom and Sandy of Solon, Iowa. A son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Linda of Downey, Iowa. Granddaughters; Tricia (Robert) Brown and Jessica (David) Lawrence-Fishbaugher. A daughter Julie Lawrence of Riverside, Iowa and Joe Schrock of Tiffin. A daughter-in-law, Connie Alt of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Granddaughters; Andi Lawrence and Katie Lawrence. Granddaughter Melia (Josh) Ledoux and her mother Gloria Lawrence. Two great-granddaughters; Shaylin and Larkin Brown. She was preceded in death by her son Jack in February of 2000 and her husband George in June of 2003.

Celebration of Life Service will be held 6:30 PM Thursday, September 17, 2015 at the Yoder-Powell Funeral in Kalona. With Rev. Jim Stout officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-6:30 PM on Thursday at the Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for Iowa City hospice.