Donald Wayne Lawrence

Obituary

Donald Wayne Lawrence was born June 8th, 1938 to George and Rose (Giem) Lawrence in Cheyenne, Wyoming and went to be with his Lord on Thursday morning, January 7, 2021 at his home in Boise City, Oklahoma.  Don had one brother, David Albert that died at an early age and one sister Charlotte Ann who died in 2004. Don was the last member of the Lawrence family. Don never married but he always had a soft spot for the children of the church and they likewise loved him.  He was at every birthday party, holiday dinner, cook out, graduation and anniversary party.

     Don had many hobbies and one was collecting railroad memorabilia as his dad had worked for the railroad until his death.  One of Don’s prized possessions was his dad’s railroad watch. 

Don completed welding and acetylene torch training as well as carpentry training before graduating from Cheyenne High School. Don attended York College in York, Nebraska where he obtained a preaching degree in 1957 and did appointment preaching during his time there all over Nebraska and Texas.   Don made many friends at York College and kept in touch with them until his death.   Don would make audio cassettes and send them instead of letters and all his friends and a few distant cousins treasured them.  Don then attended Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas where he received a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s Degree.  Don made many lifelong friends at ACC.

    Don loved spreading the gospel and preached in Loveland, Colorado for four years before moving to Holdredge, Nebraska where he preached for two years.  Then Don moved to Larned, Kansas and was the minister for six years.  He moved to Boise City, Oklahoma where he preached for twelve years and then commuted to Holly, Colorado for an additional twelve years.  After that and only due to declining health, Don retired and attended the Boise City church until his death.

    Don was also a busy man outside of the church and worked many years in various jobs, such as school bus driver, school custodian and delivered meals for the senior citizens center daily to shut-ins in town.  He always came back after his deliveries and washed the pots and pans for the cooks which made him very popular with the cooks.

     Don was always a careful if not overly cautious driver.  Once while on I-70 between Lamar and Denver, he was pulled over by a highway patrolman because he was doing 55 miles per hour in an older car and the patrolman laughed and said he had profiled Don.  It seems drug traffickers would drive older cars and make sure not to speed on interstates.  He let him go with a laugh and a story Don thought was funny.  Don’s cars typically lasted 300 to 400 thousand miles because of his steady but slow driving and his meticulous mechanical upkeep; although none of them had a back seat because he hauled the windmill weights back there and emergency kits in case he was caught out on the highway in inclement weather.

     Don’s very well-organized address book was full of friends and each and everyone one of them, upon hearing of this death proclaimed that Don was the best friend they ever had.  Over 49 friends from Oregon to Florida were contacted, his book also contained many more friends that had passed on.

    Being a minister and spreading the gospel was Don’s mission in life.  He performed many weddings and preached many funerals.  His pulpit preaching was among the finest and he went many places to preach weeklong meetings.  For many years Don was a helper or teacher at Black Mesa Bible Camp and was a board member and helped set up and take down camp for many years.

     Other than studying his Bible and serving in the Lord’s service, Don was one of the nation’s premiere and most famous windmill weight collector.  He loved going all over trading, collecting and selling windmill weights.  At one time Don had over 200 weights and many cast iron door stops.  In about 2000, he sold almost all of his weights to pay for his sister’s medical expenses.  Before that, he and Rick Nidey wrote and published an extensive windmill weight collection book.  In ten years, the book was selling for $100 on Ebay and is still quoted and referenced to this day on websites and by collectors that are trading or selling weights.  Don had just a few extremely rare weights, and weights that had a sentimental attachment to him, and door stops which were proudly displayed in his living room.

    Don was fortunate in his later years to inherit some royalty from his aunts that made him financially comfortable.  Don’s lifestyle never changed; he treated his good fortune as if he was just the steward of it for God’s work. Don was a kind, wise, generous and honorable man and regularly donated to several children’s homes, overseas missions, and missions that spread the gospel in books, videos and other ways.  In want or plenty, Don was always looking to best use his life to spread God’s word. Don was a humble man that with his generous heart built up treasures for himself in Heaven beyond what this world could offer.

      Don had many friends from all walks of life and was always willing to give a helping hand.   They all will miss their best friend but know that he is happy in Heaven serving God.  Don was interred near his family in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

 Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence at www.hensonnovak.com