LAWRENCE, MARY DONNA KING, May 22, 1927 – May 19, 2008
Mary Donna King Lawrence passed away at home on May 19, 2008 of complications of Parkinson’s disease after having courageously and graciously faced a gradually worsening illness for nearly 15 years. Her husband, who was her gentle, patient caregiver throughout her illness, and family members were by her side. Mary was born May 22, 1927 in Malad, Idaho to William F. and Iduma Willie King, the last of their ten children. She grew up on the family farm near Buist, Idaho, and then later in Logan, Utah, graduating from Logan High School and earning a B.S. degree in education from Utah State University.
She was married to Alma C. Lawrence in the Logan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July, 1953, and together they raised a family of seven children. Mary’s greatest joys were her husband and family. She was a devoted, loyal friend and beloved companion to her husband, and the nurturing, enabling champion of her children. She loved learning and working with her family, crying and laughing and playing with them, and sharing her experiences and testimony with them. Her family will be forever grateful for her enduring faith and wise counsel and for her silent prayers that kept them safe and her spoken prayers that pierced their hearts.
Mary revered her pioneer ancestors and sought always to emulate their devotion to the Savior. She served as a full-time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New England States Mission from 1951-53; and many years later, she served a second mission with her husband in the Montana Billings Mission. During her lifetime, she served with devotion in a variety of callings in the Church she loved so well – in the Primary and with the Young Women, as a ward choir director and ward music leader, and as an instructor. But perhaps her greatest loves among her callings were these two: first, the Relief Society, because she loved visiting teaching and she delighted in serving for many years in ward and stake Relief Society presidencies; and second, the St. George Temple, where she had the cherished privilege of serving with her husband for several years as a temple worker. She also felt keenly the obligation to provide meaningful community service, assisting with adult education and Boy Scout/Cub Scout programs, acting as a judge of elections and a member of several jury pools, and opening her heart and home to many individuals in need.
Passionate about education and the arts, she instilled in her children and in those who knew her well, a love for learning and exploring, for reading and for all good books, music, art, and theater, and for genuine beauty. These loves, she believed, augmented faith and character and increased one’s capacity to feel, perceive, heal, and serve.
Mary is survived by her husband, Alma; by her seven children, Keith (Tracy) Lawrence, Steven (Louise) Lawrence, Elaine (Doug) Croft, Terri (Newell) Peterson, Raelyn (Matt) Johnson, Cleon (Melanie) Lawrence, and Devon (Vickie) Lawrence; by 35 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and by two brothers, Owen (Helen) King and Grant King. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her seven other siblings and by three grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held May 24 in the Summit Ward Chapel. Interment will be in the Summit Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary.