Charles (Chuck) LeRoy Lawrence was born Oct. 2. 1942 in Kansas City, MO. He was the fifth child and only son born to Ethel and Otis Lawrence. This meant he was spoiled rotten and constantly fussed over by his ever-adoring sisters.
He and his family moved to Stilwell, Kansas in 1955. Here his love for country life and athletics emerged, and he spent time riding horses and playing football, basketball, and baseball. Chuck graduated from Stilwell High School in 1960. A scholarship took him to Ft. Scott Community College for football and basketball, but homesickness brought him back home. His cure for that was to join the US Army. He was shipped to Germany after basic training where he spent his days as a clerk typist in the 79th HQ company.
Upon discharge, he married Rita Boehm, and with her established a home in Hillsdale with their sons Greg and Keith. He and his second wife, Marilyn Slawson, and their daughters, Heather and Lacy, lived in Stilwell. His cowboy lifestyle is probably part of the reason he was too independent for marriage. He never enjoyed sitting still and staying in, and even in the last weeks of his life, he could be found golfing with friends and attending softball games of his youngest grandchild.
Chuck worked as a carpenter, a car salesman, a courier, and found his greatest success in collections. His true calling was in managing people, and he loved his employees like family. After he retired, he even did a stint as an Uber driver.
He loved going to Arizona during the winters, but eventually moved back to Stilwell to live with his sister Barb and her husband, Chuck. This put him in closer proximity to the grandkids and their sporting activities. He spent a lot of his time coaching and critiquing from a bleacher seat or folding chair.
Chuck lived life big. He loved life, and he loved people. He couldn’t resist a deal, even if that deal was slightly questionable, and he loved a good bet. He’d give the shirt right off his back and the $100 bills in his wallet to anyone who needed them, including his mom when aunt Bobby wasn’t looking.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Shirley, Maxine and Geraldine (Tutty) and son Keith. He is survived by his sisters Barbara and Sue, son Greg Lawrence, daughter Heather Lawrence-Kauk (Mike), daughter Lacy Ohlmeier (Curt), grandchildren Chaz and Casin Lawrence, Maggie, Carter, Stella, and Delaney Kauk, Josie (Cody Gabriel) and Lucas Cummings, Rebecka Jensen (Michael) and Blake Ohlmeier, great-grandsons Bridger and Lawson Jensen, and many nieces and nephews.
