Iris Ruth Lawrence's Obituary
Iris Ruth (Fenton) Lawrence
Iris Ruth Lawrence, 91, of Tacoma passed away peacefully on Friday morning, January 30, 2009 at her resident home, Franke Tobey Jones Retirement Estates. Iris was born in Tacoma, Washington on July 29, 1917. She was the oldest daughter of Delos McLain and Eva (Whitford) Fenton and was raised in the family home on S. 56th St. in Tacoma. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Tacoma in 1936, and married Otto Reuben Lawrence, also from Tacoma, August 21, 1945. Iris and Otto lived for many years in West Seattle, where they raised their three children. Iris spent most of her adult life as a homemaker, wife and mother, and in later years was active in her husband's Kiwanis activities as well as Amaranth, to which she belonged with Otto. She enjoyed sewing and made much of her and her daughter's apparel in the 1950's and 60's. She was also an excellent cook. Iris was preceded in death by her husband, Otto, in 1996 and son, Allan Eugene Lawrence, 2003. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Ann Force, of Nevada City, California, daughter Patricia Jo Hullin of Puyallup, grandsons Anthony Tucker Cirino and Clayton Ryan Cirino of Nevada County, California and John Allan Lawrence and granddaughter Diane Kay Lawrence, both of Tacoma, and daughter-in-law Sandra Lawrence of Tacoma. Iris was one of nine siblings and was preceded in death by brothers Kenneth, Bernard, Morris and Willard Fenton and sister Virginia (Fenton) Tichy. She is survived by sister Blanche (Fenton) Bamburg of Seattle and brothers Howard Fenton of Arizona and Ocean Shores, Washington and Hugh Fenton of Olympia. She is also survived by 22 nieces and nephews and their families, most of whom live in the Puget Sound area. A celebration of Iris' life will be held in the spring at the home of her daughter-in-law, Sandra Lawrence.
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