Lawrence Owen Greer

Lawrence Owen Greer was born April 30, 1938, in the Wentworth Community of Van Zandt County. His parents were John Wesley and Lorene Strickland Greer. He attended the Wentworth Community and Canton Schools prior to moving to Dallas. He was in the last graduating class of Forest Ave High School in 1956. He attended Tyler Junior College and received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Texas. He later attended the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management at Stanford University and became a Fellow of the National Institute of Credit.

After college graduation, he served in the United States Army Reserves for six years and became a life member of Amvets. He was a member of the Church of Christ.

Lawrence pursued a career in business information and banking. He worked for Dun & Bradstreet and became District Manager in charge of reporting operations in San Antonio. He later became an Officer and Southwest Regional Credit and Operations Manager for Crocker National Bank. He was a Vice President and Southwest Regional Credit and Operation Manager for Chase Manhattan Bank. After his banking experience, he joined the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and served in various management capacities before retiring after 17 years.

Lawrence met Edna "Mickie" Cole on a blind date in Dallas, Texas and this moment began a marriage partnership which lasted for 52 years until Mickie passed away in 2019. The couple were blessed with three children: Donna and Kris; Ed and Katy; and Justin, who died while serving Van Zandt County as an Assistant District Attorney. They had one grandchild, Wesley Greer.

Lawrence and Mickie lived in various places in Texas and had visited almost every state in the United States. However, in 1987, they were fortunate to be able to move to their favorite place of all-Canton. They made their home on land that had been in Lawrence's family for generations.

Lawrence was a descendant of early Texas and Van Zandt County settlers. He had an avid interest in family and Van Zandt County history. He was proud to have been a long-time member of the Van Zandt County Genealogical Society and was selected as "Texas Volunteer of the Year." He was a co-author of three books pertaining to Van Zandt County history. He was also appointed to be a member of the Van Zandt County Historical Commission and served as chairman of that group.

Lawrence and Mickie were major collectors of vintage cookbooks and part of their collection is on display at Texas Women's University. He was an Auctioneer. He also carved hundreds of unique walking sticks, most of which he gave away.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mickie; his sons: Justin and Edward; and brothers: Ricky, W.L. and sister-in-law, Mary E. Greer.

Lawrence is survived by his daughter, Donna Greer and Kris Gutz; daughter-in-law, Katy Wilkinson Greer; grandson, Wesley Cole Greer; brother, Eugene and Lowdean Greer; sisters-in-law: Janice Haddaway and Dorothy McFarland; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

To know Lawrence was to love him. A memorial service for family and friends to honor Lawrence will be held at a later date.