Donald Arthur Lawrence

After a short but very brave battle with cancer, Donald Arthur Lawrence peacefully passed away and was surrounded by his family on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at the age of 79 years, at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, AB. He is lovingly remembered and will always be missed by his daughters Heather (James) Jensen and Dawn Marie (Cam) Mead, granddaughters Natalie, Maelle, and Maren, his second love Bonnie Feary, and his “Granddaughters” Lindsay Seens and Melanie Wiens. He is survived by his brother Doug (Meryl) Lawrence, sisters-in-law Norma Howell, Orma McPherson, brothers- in-law Don Steele and George McPherson, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends. Don was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth Joan, parents Arthur and Alice Lawrence, step-mom Thelma Lawrence, Joan’s parents William and Florey McPherson, and sister-in-law Marlene Steele, and brothers-in-law Russ Howell and Bob McPherson.

Don loved farming in his younger years, and later found the challenges as an electrician and owning his own electrical business to be rewarding. His last working years were spent selling real estate in both Manitoba and Calgary. Outside of working he spent countless hours listening to and playing old time music, playing cards and games, attempting to beat his family in Nintendo, and even learning to be a pretty good cook.

Dad always loved traveling in a variety of different RV’s throughout his life with some favourite destinations being Rushing River in Ontario and then the Kananaskis area. He was so happy to be able to go on his dream road trip last summer when he and Bonnie went to the East Coast of Canada for four months.

The family would like to thank the medical staff (Unit 94) at Rockyview General Hospital for their care and compassion over the last few weeks. Dad was very grateful for the nurses and health care aids that took such good care of him and filled his last few weeks with laughter.

A Celebration of Don’s life will be held on Friday, April 7, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the South Calgary Funeral Centre, 12700 MacLeod Trail South (at Lake Fraser Gate).

At Dad’s request a private family interment will be held at the Victoria Cemetery in Balmoral, MB at a later date. A gathering to celebrate Don’s life will be held in Manitoba sometime this summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations in Don’s memory directly to the Victoria Church Fund c/o John Shipley (Box 117, Balmoral, MB R0C 0H0) where Don will be laid to rest.