Uncle Lawrence

A few months ago, my dad's older brother Lawrence passed away. Uncle Lawrence led a remarkable, accomplished life. Thousands of students came to love him as a charismatic teacher and presenter. He was articulate, smart as a whip, adventurous and loved to travel, and he made hard work look fun on two huge, beautiful ranches he owned over the course of his life (often inviting students up for horse rides there). He was SO FUNNY and was known for his gift of wit. And lastly, he and Aunt Elaine raised 8 awesome kids. He sounds great on paper, he was even better in real life.

Uncle Lawrence loved, LOVED little babies and it was his preference to be holding a baby at all times. At any family function, he would be holding at a minimum one baby. As a young man he served a mission in New York City, and once walked into St. Patrick's Cathedral. As he walked down the aisle, he saw a small white bundle. He was shocked to discover there was a baby inside, with a note from the mother asking someone to take care of her. Notifying those at the church, they told him that unfortunately that happened often. This experience and the thought of that baby always stayed with him. It was as if he spent the next sixty years of his life trying to make his life the opposite of that moment.

Uncle Lawrence had a big personality, but even more than his accolades I am impressed how he made time for individuals. My aunt, 14 years his junior, said of him:

"He was a special mentor to me in my awkward junior high years.  I have no idea why he thought I was worth spending time with; but I remember the time he took me aside and told me I was good-lookin’ and had a lot going for me. He was encouraging and so kind. It meant a lot since I was 14 years younger and probably really obnoxious at that stage!   After that it seemed like every time he came home he took the opportunity to talk to me, ask questions about my life and was truly interested. It meant so much to me. Maybe he wouldn’t even remember it, but he inspired me and gave me more confidence in myself."

I'm so grateful for his life and the chance I have to reflect and learn from the way he lived!

With our own Delaney in 2012