Joan Louise Lawrence's Obituary
Joan Louise Lawrence, 88, passed away on November 12, 2022. Cremation is under the direction of Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park. The family is planning a Celebration of her life in Spring of 23’.
Joan Louise Demko was born on April 2, 1934, in Wilkerson, WA. to Andrew Henry Demko and Doris Smiley Demko. Joan was a third generation Washingtonian whose family settled in the Buckley, Orting-Sumner area in the 1890’s. She was raised on a small farm near the town of South Prairie with lots of family and friends surrounding her. Joan was the typical farm girl, learning the tasks of milking the family cow “Molly”, collecting eggs, feeding animals and tending to the families 4 large fruit and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed learning how to sew her own clothes, how to cook & preserve food, as well as the skill of building tree houses and forts in their forested acreage with her sister and 2 brothers.
Joan attended So. Prairie Elementary School and quickly discovered her love for learning & reading, which continued throughout her life. Soon she was off to Buckley High School to finish her schooling. Graduating with honors, she went to the big city of Seattle to get training in office management and afterwards got her first official job. During this time, she met a young man named Gene Lawrence at a local Grange Hall dance. They quickly “hit it off”, and a year later they were married. From this union (that lasted 55 years), they soon had 4 children and settled into a larger house in the Edgewood area where they would stay for the next 47 yrs. There Joan and Gene raised their family with a lots of laughter and fun; going to family get-togethers, school programs, baseball & football games, camping vacations and still helping out at her parent’s farm and family as needed. As the kids grew and began leaving the nest, Joan decided to go back to work. After a refresher course at Bates Technical College, she soon was hired by the State of Washington Social Services as a financial worker. She work at this job helping people in need for 20 yrs. before she retired in 1995. By that time, Gene had also retired. Together they began this new chapter enjoying many trips to the Oregon Coast (their favorite destination), Canada, and many other places in the U.S. Retirement didn’t slow Joan down as she continued to stay busy helping family and friends. When she wasn’t at her sewing machine making and designing beautiful quilts, sewing gifts or making costumes for her grandchildren, she could be found in the kitchen cooking/baking something wonderful for the family to enjoy. Joan & Gene rarely ate alone, as their children, grandchildren and friends always knew they were welcomed to join them. Their home became the busy hub for family celebrations and get-togethers for many years. One of Joan’s greatest joys was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the ‘go to” babysitter whenever the parents needed a break or a long weekend off. Joan never tired of doing it, as she had just as much fun as the children playing games, making cookies and being silly together. A sleep-over at Grandma Joanie’s was always a big treat for everyone! As time passed, Gene began slowing down and was soon diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Joan took this news as a challenge to keep him as healthy and happy as possible. She took over many of his chores and was a wonderful nurse to him for 10 years before he passed away in 2008. Now alone with no one to look after, it was decided that Joan’s 20 year old autistic grandson Stuart would come and live with her. The two made quite a duo as they would go exercise at the YMCA, go to the library, shopping or eat out on most days. Their busy routine made them happy and content as there was always something to do.
She has always been a person who loves to help out others. Although a very private person, she enjoyed a good laugh and enjoyed hearing about other people’s lives and common experiences. With her quick wit, she’ll would have you smiling in no time, and you always had a good friend to share time with.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Lawrence; parents, Andrew and Doris Demko; siblings, Virginia Demko Webb and Roy Demko; a son, David Lawrence.
She is survived by her children; Elaine Cox and husband, Spruce of Gig Harbor, WA; Colleen Clifford and husband, Geoff of Dupont, WA and Bill Lawrence and wife Kelly of Edgewood, WA; her brother, Edward Demko and wife, Karen of Vancouver, WA; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Please continue to look for an update about her Memorial in the Spring of 2023.
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