Our mother Lois Parkinson Lawrence passed away Nov. 23, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born Feb. 25, 1934, in Grantsville, Utah, to George Samuel and Anna Cecelia Johnson Parkinson. She graduated from Grantsville High School in 1952. She married Elbert Lawrence Jr. on March 19, 1954. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.
Mom spent her life in service to her family and community, caring for her aged mother, her children and her spouse. She served in many leadership and teaching positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She served the children of Grantsville for several years working in school lunchrooms, but her greatest work was wife and mother. She will be remembered as a terrific cook and her rolls will never be topped.
Mom had a lifelong love of literature, poetry, and theater. She created, performed, and directed many plays for school, church, and the community, using her public speaking skills and creativity. Her talents were greatly admired, and she helped create the Grantsville Opera House Memorial Theater, a community theater group. She contributed in various ways to most of their productions, including directing some of the plays. Her memory was legendary, and an important resource of Grantsville’s history.
Lois is survived by her children Annalyn (Dodd) Greer, Judd (Christine) Lawrence, Jeane (Alex) Robinson, Elliot (Gracelyn) Lawrence; 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Maralee Parkinson. She was preceded in death by Bert, her husband of 65 years; her parents; son-in-law Myron Abraham; and siblings Sarah Lusby, Lucille Sutton, Clarice Boren Hale, Georgia Blum, Carl Parkinson, their spouses, John Parkinson, and Claude Parkinson.
Services will be held Dec. 3, 2022, at 11 a.m., at The Church Street Chapel, 81 N. Church St., Grantsville. A viewing will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be at the Grantsville City Cemetery.