Florence Lawrence

Florence Eugenia Lawrence, daughter of Oscar and Mildred (McCune) Krupp was born on March 7, 1921, in Pinckneyville, Illinois. Florence grew up in Pinckneyville where she attended and graduated from Pinckneyville High School. She spent her days mostly helping out at the family's creamery business, candling eggs and rounding up chickens that were bought and sold at the store. She helped her father separate and calibrate the cream and wait on customers. She was raised to be keenly independent and self-sufficient and to fear nothing. The family spent leisurely week-ends at relatives' farms with close knit aunts, uncles and cousins. Florence developed her love of music early on with piano lessons and many evenings entertaining her mother, father and two sisters with her piano prowess. Her mother, Mildred, took on a demanding job as the chief cook at a local restaurant, Luke's Cafe, where her food became regionally famous. Florence spent many hours at the side of her mother where the cooking skill was passed on....especially in pie making.



Florence married the love of her life, Wilbert Lawrence, after meeting him at the "Hub" another regionally well-known restaurant, where she immediately told a co-worker,"That's the guy I'm going to marry." And she did on March 24, 1946; they were married until Wilbert passed away in 1985. Following their marriage, Florence and Wilbert moved from their southern Illinois home to central Illinois where their daughter, Carol, was born and where they lived for over 20 years. During this time, Florence worked at a local restaurant and donut shop, but soon "traded up" to work for the A & P Grocery Store. But she got her first big career break when she got a job as a teller at the Community Bank of East Peoria. Her engaging personality and accounting skills were recognized and she was eventually promoted to Assistant Bank Manager, made many life-long friends, and even endured an armed robbery. On becoming empty-nesters, Florence and Wilbert had the opportunity to return to their roots in West Frankfort Illinois, where Florence went to work for Boatman's Bank of Benton and Wilbert worked alongside his younger brother, Clifford, for a coal-mining company. They purchased a small country cottage (a life-long dream for them both); planted a huge garden with blueberries and strawberries; and canned everything from pickles to grape juice. And then, a grand offer came from brother, Clifford. Would they like to move temporarily to Steamboat Springs Colorado to work for the same coal company in setting up a new operation. Florence arranged a leave of absence, they packed up a pickup truck, closed up the cottage and set up shop in Steamboat in a small apartment next to a clump of aspens with a breathtaking view of the mountains. It was an 8 month, dream-of-a-lifetime-vacation, where Florence left a little piece of her heart and for the first time did not work outside the home. Upon their return to West Frankfort, Illinois, Florence resumed work for Boatman's and Wilbert stayed with the coal company until his retirement. It was during this time that Florence began managing accounts for seniors and retirees and found a new calling: travel hostess. The bank began sponsoring regional sight-seeing trips...and who better to organize and host these traveling events than Florence. She lost Wilbert in 1985, but stayed working at the bank Her new calling kept her busy and provided her with a sense of purpose. All the while her Minnesota daughter's family was growing and Florence made the decision to go north. So with a Minnesota blizzard approaching, she blew into Morris with a U-haul trailer. She was not afraid. She rented a small house by Wells park, but after scoping out other options, she enthusiastically moved to the West Central Homes, where she enjoyed camaraderie with other residents, eating lunch at P.J. Munchies, helping Carol and Roger with babysitting opportunities, gardening tasks and many fine Sunday dinners, making many new friends in her new home and getting to know her Minnesota grandchildren, Tucker and Bree. With a strong religious faith (having been super active in the Baptist Churches in her previous homes), she joined the Federated Church where she sang in the choir, served on the church council and was a faithful attender. She loved going out: to dinner, to coffee, to visit a friend, to drop in on her family both at work and play and was always up for a party. She attended Morris Area School functions to see her grandchildren in action. She became a UMM Performing Arts Supporter and enjoyed the company of UMM faculty, staff, and students.



A broken hip forced many changes in Florence's life: she needed five operations, she had to give up driving her little gray Geo, and was not able to be "out and about". But the move to the West Wind Village proved to be a haven and an avenue for Florence to continue making friends and finding a purpose. She became the unofficial greeter at the front entrance and toodled about the facility spreading smiles and hope. The visiting children from the Morris Area Child Care highlighted her days and getting Florence to flash that twinkling smile became a past time for family and staff. Her 87 years here were spent relishing each day and making the best of all situations?both good and bad. Party-on, Florence.



Florence (often referred to as "Flo") is survived by her daughters Carol McCannon (Roger) and Brenda Jean Lueker-Lawrence-Freed-Bledsoe (Roger) and step-daughter, Judy Randolph; her sister Jessie Reuscher (Larry); grandchildren Tucker and Bree McCannon, great-grandchildren Owen and Kellen McCannon. Addition for the West Frankfort obituary grandchildren Kerry Paul Lawrence, Michael, Robert, and Melissa Kitowski Freed, step-grand children Cynde Diel (Richard), Mike Randolph (Kim), Scott Randolph, Lee Randolph (Erica), and great-grandchildren Owen and Kellen McCannon, Jessie, Lacy, Alicia, Brandon, Keri, Ian, Aaron Lawrence, and Nick, Gabby and Molly Freed; step-great-grand children Nathan Dial (Ashley), Brian Dial, Jenny, Logan, Kecia, Dylan, Marcus and Erin Randolph and one step-great-great grandchild, Ghavin Dial. Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert, her parents, her sister Wanda and one grandchild. Paul



Pallbearers for the service are: Roger McCannon, Tucker McCannon, Bree McCannon, Kris Miller, Tom McRoberts and Ray Suess. Honorary pallbearers are: Nancy Carpenter, Cheryl Rempel, Larry Reuscher, Jessie Reuscher and Peggy Suess. Deb Mahoney will serve as organist for the service with Sharon Martin and Josh Fischer providing special music. Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.