Reverend Doctor Vernon E. Lawrence

Services for Reverend Doctor Vernon E. Lawrence, 80 of Vian, Oklahoma will be at 9:30 AM on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Vian United Methodist Church in Vian, Oklahoma. Burial will be at 2:00 PM at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Dennis, Kansas under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.
He was born on June 16, 1938 in Parsons, Kansas to Thelma Elizabeth (Smith) Lawrence and Wilbert Lindsey Lawrence and passed away on March 12, 2019 in Rogers, Arkansas. He was married to Loraine M. (Bryant) Lawrence on April 28, 1956 in St. Louis, Missouri. Reverend Doctor Lawrence attended Lincoln Elementary, East Jr. High, and Parsons High School in Parsons, KS, Southwestern Assemblies of God College in Waxahachie, TX and Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, TX. He served in the U.S. Air Force, 1957 – 1965 where he played in the Air Force Band. He served on the following conference boards/committees: Higher Education, Family Ministries, Board of Communications, Board of Evangelism, Board of Prison Ministry, a Consultation Committee of the Conference Council on Ministries, and Conference Council on Finance and Administration and served the following district areas: Secretary of the District Council on Ministries, Family Ministries Coordinator, District Committee on Ministry, District Secretary of Evangelism, District Goals and Planning Committee, and Chairman of the District Committee on Building and Church Location. His community services included Representative for the Jackson County Senior Citizens Program, Board of the Caddo County Senior Citizens Program, Chaplain with the Carnegie, OK Police Department, Volunteer Chaplain with the Muskogee Regional Medical Center and Trauma Unit, He established the Senior Sentry Program in Haskell County at the First United Methodist Church in Stigler, OK and was a Volunteer Chaplain with the Department of Corrections. He was a former minister at Vian United Methodist Church and a member of the Vian United Methodist Praise Band. He was a member of Vian Lions Club, The American Legion and a lifetime member of Eufaula Masonic Lodge #1.

Survivors are his wife of 62 years: Loraine of the home; 2 daughters: Renee M. Lawrence and husband, Kenny Worley of Little Rock, AR and Sheryl K. and husband, Larry Johnson of Oklahoma City, OK; 3 sons: Rev. Marcus E. Lawrence and wife, Sandi of Richmond, TX, Roger A. Lawrence and wife, Sabrina of Gentry, AR and Nathan T.E. Lawrence and wife, Sandy of Checotah, OK; 15 grandchildren: Stephanie, Christy, Lauren, Adriane, Kelly, Tyler, Alicia, Lindsey, Kaitlyn, Jarod, Brooke, Hillary, Chad, Lacey and Braden; 10 great grandchildren: Braylon, Bryce, Mason, Eloise, Jadyn, Hunter, Kaylor, Grace, Caleb and Chloe; numerous other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers: Hubert Dale, Delbert David, Wilbert Allen and Carl William Lawrence.

Active pallbearers will be Lindsey Lawrence, Jarod Lawrence, Chad Lawrence, Braden Lawrence, Kevin Fox and Thibaut Delage.

Viewing will be 1 – 8 pm Thursday and 10 am – 8 pm Friday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, OK where the family will greet 4 – 7 pm Friday.

Memorials may be made to Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University or Vian United Methodist Church.