Lawrence attended Nevada High School and graduated in 1955. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the National Guard and was at Camp Clark in Nevada the duration of his enlistment that ended in 1964. While in the Guard, he knew that he wanted to be a farmer and started raising hogs and row crops with his dad. In the summer of 1962, he met and married his true love, Patricia Ann Nutt at the Milo Baptist Church. After their marriage they moved to their current homestead. Following his and Pat’s dreams, Lawrence started raising hogs and growing his farm. He continued to operate their farm until his retirement in 2020.
In the winter of 1967, Lawrence & Pat were blessed with a son, Brian. Lawrence and his family attended Milo Baptist Church where he was a deacon and served the Lord in every way that he could. In 1972, the family started attending the First Baptist Church in Nevada. He became a deacon at FBC and continued to serve there until his passing. In the spring of 2024, he was recognized and awarded the distinction of Deacon Emeritus for his many years of faithful service. Lawrence was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, on September 9, 2017.
Throughout his life, Lawrence held many titles. He was on the board of directors at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, as well as a longtime school board member and president of the board for Nevada R-5 School district. Lawrence belonged to the Pork Producers of Missouri for several years while he was an independent hog producer. He and his family were selected as the 1978 American Royal family and recognized at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO.
Lawrence enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, but his greatest love was hanging out with the grandkids and attending their activities. He was an avid Chiefs fan. When Lawrence and Pat were younger, they enjoyed many boating and skiing trips at Stockton Lake.
Lawrence was a friend to everyone he met. He would visit people in their time of need and was always one to pray with them and to spread the gospel. It seemed as though he knew everybody, either through the farming community, the Pork Producers, the schools, or the church. He will be truly missed by all that knew him.
Survivors include one son Brian Tally (Kelly), Nevada, MO; his father-in-law, Bruce McKeithan (Freda), Overland Park, KS; grandchildren Brett Tally, Ft. Scott, KS, Chloe Baldwin (Zac), Lamar, MO, Austin Tally, Lamar, MO, Brandon Baldwin (Jordan), Nevada, MO, and Anica Urquidez (Gavin), Ft. Worth, TX; numerous great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. In addition to his wife, Pat, he was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Lawrence Edward Tally; granddaughters, Kylie and Samantha Baldwin, and his mother-in-law, Jean McKeithan.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Nevada with Dr. Kevin Daugherty officiating. Interment will follow in Milo Cemetery, Milo, MO. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00p.m., Monday, August 19, 2024, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the First Baptist Church, Nevada, in care of Ferry Funeral Home.
