Arnold Joseph Lawrence

Arnold Joseph Lawrence, 53, died on June 5, 2009, in Anchorage. A service will be at 3 p.m. June 12 in Mountain Village. George J. Landlord will officiate. Pallbearers will be Mike Lawrence, Herbert Lawrence, Eugene Landlord, Willie John, Morris H. Lawrence, Lee Myre, and Leonard Landlord. Arnold will be laid to rest at the Mountain Village Cemetery. Arnold was born in Sitka on December 21, 1955. He was raised in Sitka and moved to Mountain Village, remaining there until 2002, when he moved to Anchorage. He was employed with Sitka Sound Seafoods, Anchorage Daily News and was a commercial fisherman since 1974 at the Lower Yukon River. He was affiliated with the Covenant Church. His family wrote, "Arnie had a hands-on approach to life and was 'happy-go-lucky.' He was a genuine jack-of-all-trades, nicknamed 'MacGyver' by 'Unga.' He commercial fished on the Lower Yukon River and hunted moose every fall while he was there, sometimes taking a 12-volt battery to watch DVDs on a DVD player. He was an avid movie buff. He was a hard worker, always had a smile on his face and lovingly teased everyone he met. Arnie welcomed young people into his home and treated them as if they were his own. He had a positive outlook on life and lived each day to the fullest. He was always in good spirits and left us way too soon. He will be dearly missed by all." He is survived by his wife, Mathilda Lawrence of Anchorage; daughter, Jennie Lawrence of Ketchikan; sons, Ryan J., Randy E., Russ J., and Morris E. Lawrence of Anchorage; sisters, Karen E. Haugen and Diane M. Lawrence of Anchorage; brothers, Morris H. of Anchorage and Mike K. Lawrence of Nebraska; and many other relatives throughout Alaska. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eleanore Eide Lawrence; father, Morris E. Lawrence; brother, Barton E. Lawrence; nephew, Mark D. Haugen; and grandmothers, Elizabeth Saccheus and Lillian Parker. Memorial donations may be sent to Mel Lawrence, 211 Bunn St., Anchorage, AK 99508. Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.