Lawrence
PHYLLIS B. LAWRENCE
February 7, 1922 December 31, 2020
Phyllis B. Lawrence was born on February 7, 1922, to Earl and Alma Baird. She died on December 31, 2020, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, of COVID19 and related issues. She was 98 years old.
Phyllis was educated primarily in Routt County, Colorado schools and graduated from Hayden High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, Colorado.
After graduation from college, Phyllis married Leonard Cook, a B-26 bomber pilot in the U. S. Army Air Corps. Tragically, they did not have much time together as Leonard was heroically killed in a flying accident while training in Shreveport, Louisiana, for deployment in World War II.
Phyllis then moved to Caon City, Colorado, to teach English. There, she met and subsequently married John Edwin Lawrence, a widower with a young daughter, Leah Joy Lawrence. Phyllis and Edwin started their journey together in 1945 with a ready-made family and later added two sons, John and Blake.
Phyllis re-started her teaching career at Roosevelt Junior High in Caon City, Colorado, and continued at the newly combined Caon City Junior High School. She persevered through several summers of classes at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, to obtain her library science credential and eventually became the librarian at Caon City High School where she worked until her retirement
Phyllis was devoted to her Presbyterian faith and was a very active member of Presbyterian churches in Caon City and, later, in Colorado Springs. She was a dedicated member of the respective church choirs and served in a number of committee positions.
Phyllis had a passion for writing poetry. She was a distinguished member of the Colorado Poetry Society and participated in yearly poetry contests in which she received many awards. She was very proud that a number of her poems were published.
Phyllis further expressed her creativity in her hobby of flower arranging, often using flowers from her own gardens (especially her beloved roses).
Phyllis was a long-time member of PEO, a women's philanthropic organization. She was a member of chapters in Caon City and Colorado Springs, serving in a number of official capacities. She lived in the PEO Chapter House in Colorado Springs for a number of years.
The last several years of Phyllis' life were very frustrating for her. She loved words and great writing, beautiful music and interactions with friends. Her enjoyment of such things was greatly diminished by the onset of dementia. Until stricken by the coronavirus, her physical condition remained remarkably good, but her mind continued to betray her. She will be remembered for her personal integrity, her high standards and her exceedingly kind, compassionate and caring nature. She was always thinking of others and how she could help them.
Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Edwin Lawrence, two of her brothers, Gerald Baird and John Baird, and her stepdaughter, Leah Joy Young. She is survived by brother Ralph (Barb) Baird of Craig, Colorado, sons John Lawrence of Carson City, Nevada, and Blake Lawrence of Oakland, California, and special cousin Dorothy (Eugene) Gualco of Sacramento, California. She is also survived by a number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Due to issues with the coronavirus pandemic, no services are scheduled. However, Phyllis supported many charities (especially the Wounded Warriors Project and the National Wildlife Foundation) and, if any friends or family are so inclined, please consider a donation to your favorite charity.