Ray Lawrence

1927 - 2017

Ray M. Lawrence, 90, passed away peacefully at home in Studio City, CA. on August 27, 2017 after a brief illness.

Born in Lorain, Ohio on August 19, 1927 to Joseph and Elizabeth Skrepich, Ray attended high school in Lorain before enlisting in the Navy in 1943, at 16 years old. He proudly served on the U.S.S. Point Cruz in the Pacific theatre, where he was fondly known as “Russian” due to his Ukrainian background.

Upon his return to Ohio, he met and married Grace A. Rogert of Cleveland Heights, OH. They were married for 63 years before Grace’s death in 2015.

Ray pursued his love of music by first, forming his own band, and then later becoming a record producer, manager and artist representative working with such talent as Trini Lopez, Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Laurindo Almeida and Monte Davidson as well as founding the Dobre record label.

He is survived by three children, Jeffrey R. Lawrence (Diane), Connie Lawrence and Lisa Levinson (Chris) and four grandchildren (Christopher and Katherine Lawrence and Matthew and Jenna Levinson).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Providence St. Joseph’s Foundation (Burbank). 818-847-4673.