PETE LAWRENCE

Pete Lawrence passed away on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at the age of 92. He was born in 1919 in Lemoore, Ca., the sixth of nine children of Phillip and Clara Lawrence. Pete was raised in Reedley, Ca. He married Evelyn Reimer in 1939 after a courtship, which included Pete riding Evelyn into town on the handlebars of his bike. He started his long career in farming as a hired man. In 1944 Pete was drafted into the Army and served in the Philippines during WWII, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. After the war, he returned to his family and to farming. Pete and Evelyn raised two daughters in Kingsburg, Ca. where farming was his profession and his passion. He took great pride in the quality and quantity of his harvests. Extended family and friends all reaped the benefits of Pete's talent - he loved to share the fruits of his labor. Pete and Evelyn took advantage of his successes as a farmer by traveling in their RV and by racing around the Pismo Dunes in one of the dune buggies he built. Pete's skills as a farmer were matched equally to his skill manufacturing items. Close family and friends were the lucky recipients of wonderful handmade BBQs and birdhouses. He loved to demonstrate that most anything could be fixed with wire, duct tape and for really complicated repairs - pop rivets. He also had the ability to solve and diagram most any problem using only a paper napkin and eating utensils. He had a quiet, yet clever sense of humor. In 1999, after farming for more than 60 years, Pete and Evelyn retired to Pismo Beach. In 2007 they moved to the Manse on Marsh in San Luis Obispo. Early last year, Pete's beloved wife of 72 years, Evelyn, passed away. After her passing, Pete was doted on by his San Luis Obispo based family: his daughters, son-in-law and grandson. The wonderful staff at the Manse, particularly the caregivers became his second family. He came from humble beginnings but through his work ethic and devotion to farming, he was able to carve out a successful and comfortable life for his family. Pete won't just be remembered for his amazing watermelons or succulent garden tomatoes - he imparted onto his family the simple values by which he lived: love, hard work, loyalty, generosity and humor. Pete is survived by his daughters, Linda Porter and Sharon Ramirez and her husband Albert of San Luis Obispo. He was "Poppop" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Megan Porter Spinka and her husband Paul, and their children Celine and Claire of Redding, Ca.; Gail Ramirez McComb and her husband Joel and their children Garrett, Delaney, Griffin and Joelle of Rancho Sante Fe, Ca.; Mark Ramirez and his wife Terra and Terra's children Rylie and Kaitlyn Howell of San Luis Obispo, Ca.; and Jay Porter and his wife Katie of San Diego, Ca. Pete is also survived by two of his siblings, Richard Lawrence of Visalia, Ca. and Clara Lawrence Schmidt of Paradise, Ca. A Cleebration of Pete's Life will be held at Blake and Lisa Carlson's ranch, 14262 E. Caruthers Ave., Kingsburg, Ca. on Saturday, March 31, 2012, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. For information call (805)542-9138. Those interested in remembering Pete can make a donation to Kingsburg Ag Boosters, PO Box 55, Kingsburg, Ca. 93631.