Don Lawrence

William Donald (Don) Lawrence was born on January 15, 1939 and went to be with his Lord on April 14, 2021.  He was preceded in death by his parents Neoma B. and William B. Lawrence and by his sister Bettye L. Taylor.

Don had several medical issues throughout the years but he never once complained, he endured his pain and anxiety silently not wanting to burden anyone with it.  He was strong in mind, faith and the love for his family and friends allowed him to carry on and live as full of a life he could for them.  After 26 major surgeries over his lifetime he succumbed to pneumonia.

His father built roads all over the state of Texas and due to this Don went to 23 grade schools before graduating from Bridgeport High School.  He served in the Air Force Reserves repairing airplanes for the love of his country. He moved to Dallas in 1960 and got a job in the business office of Carrol Collins Ford.  He did not realize it at the time that working at Carrol Collins Ford would eventually have him meet his future wife Pamela, whom he would marry on December 29, 1961.  Working in dealership business offices was something he enjoyed until his retirement from Group I Automotive as CFO after 25 years.

Don has two children, a son, William Darrell Lawrence and a daughter, Kyla L. Reedy.  Darrell is married to Tanya N. Lawrence and Kyla is married to Lance Reedy.  Don also has two grandchildren, Jesse B. and Isabel.  Jesse recently married Delaney in a beautiful wedding at their home.  He loved his children and grandchildren so very much and he was so proud of them that their faith was as strong as his own.

He had many interests over the years, one was rebuilding a 1965 Ford Mustang with Darrell’s help.    He enjoyed working with his hands building custom porches for the homes his family lived in and that led him to a hobby he enjoyed later in life, woodworking.  He built a beautiful custom desk and hutch for his home office that was admired by all who saw it.  He also very cleverly turned a twin bed headboard and footboard into a bench.

For nine years he would take his wife to Snowmass, Colorado where they would go skiing then during spring break they would take their daughter, Kyla there as well.  Don moved his wife and daughter to Snowmass, Colorado for a year but Don had to return to Dallas to have colon surgery.  He returned to Snowmass after his surgery against doctor’s orders and went straight back to skiing.  He enjoyed skiing that much.

After his retirement Don took his wife on 13 cruises.  He always had side trips planned after debarkation.  He got tickets for plays or train tickets to another location in Europe.  He even hired cars to meet them.  He was so good at planning the side trips he could have been a travel agent.

Don was a quiet man and drew people to him.  His kindness and generosity was known by many.  His heart was given to his wife, family and friends but his soul belonged to God and after a surgery 18 years ago he told his wife, “When I get well, I want to go that big church, Prestonwood.”

He was the director of the Agape Life Group at Prestonwood Baptist Church.  He also was an usher for many years and one year ushered ten performances out of thirteen of the Gift of Christmas production.  Don also performed the role of teller at Prestonwood and only stepped down from that position when he could no longer perform the duties required.  Don was truly dedicated to God and doing what he could to further the word of God to others via his words and actions.  He truly loved Prestonwood and those he worshipped with.

Words from Don’s wife, Pamela:

My husband was the most loving, sweet and generous husband a wife could have ever wanted.  I was so blessed to have had 59 years with him.  Every day when he came home from work he would give me a kiss and every night before bedtime it would be a kiss and a hug.

For my 60 ^th birthday Don planned to take me out for dinner with another couple.  We walked outside to find a cowboy (western) limo.  We went to the Ft. Worth Stockyards then returned and picked up our friends.  We went to the restaurant on the top floor of the Sheraton Hotel.  Much to my surprise one hundred of our friends greeted me.  Since our son and his wife were there, I wondered where my four year old grandson was.  Don had arranged for a room in the hotel and a professional babysitter.  Our daughter helped her dad plan this I found out later.  He went above and beyond with all he did.  It was a very special evening and his love shone bright with all he did.  I was blessed to have him as my husband.

Words from Don’s daughter, Kyla:

My dad had an open mind and open heart.  I know this because he agreed to adopt a child to raise as his own.  That child was me and I was so very blessed to have him as my dad.  My dad would drop everything and come home if I needed him.  Once when I sprained my ankle really bad and another time when a giant spider tried to bite my hand off.  He was my protector, my hero.

My dad and I were very close, I was a daddy’s girl.  At one point in high school my dad noticed that I was not myself.  On a Thursday he asked me if I had anything important in school on Friday.  I told him no and he told me that we were both going to play hookey.  He let me sleep a bit late and after getting up we fixed breakfast together.  He then drove us to Ft. Worth and showed me where he used to live when he was a kid.  The small house was no longer there, the only thing left to indicate a house was ever there was a set of steps and a sidewalk leading up to an old cracked concrete slab.  He told me more about his life when he was younger and how hard it had been for him and that he was there for me if I ever needed to talk.  We got back in the car and went to the Ft. Worth Stockyards.  There we looked in shops and we had our picture taken dressed up in old wild west clothes, he was a cowboy and I was a southern belle.  We also went in a shop where they sold rubber band revolvers and a rubber band gatling gun.  We had a short rubber band fight with each other until the owner of the shop started to shoot us with the gatling gun.  The shop owner won.  Dad got me one of the rubber band revolvers and we left and went to lunch.  During lunch I told dad what was happening to me and why I was so down and he gave me good advice to try.  On hindsight that was the best day I ever had that was just me and him.

We would also go see scary movies together because mom hated those.  It was another way we could spend time together.  I can still see in my mind’s eye how he would react to the jump scares it was funny, as I would jump as well then quietly giggle at dad’s response.

When my husband asked my dad for my hand in marriage my dad did a happy feet dance and said, “Yes, Yes, Yes!”  His response surprised me and I know it shocked my husband, but his reaction made it a more memorable moment for me, one that I will never forget.  I am thankful that my dad was there to give me away and that he approved of my husband.  He welcomed my husband into the family with open arms.

I will never forget that most times my dad would not laugh out loud but instead would grin so big it reached his eyes.  I will remember how he would tell jokes, give advice and love.  He may have been a quiet man but I never once felt unloved or uncared for by him.  He showed his love for me and everyone by what he said and did.

I love you and you will forever be my daddy.

A Memorial Service was held at 2:00 pm on Monday April 19, 2021 at Prestonwood Baptist Church located at 6801 W. Park Blvd, Plano, Texas 75093