Doris Margaret Lawrence

Doris Margaret "Bebe" Lawrence (née Tobin), a devoted wife, mother, and esteemed legal secretary, passed away on January 2, 2018, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 95. She was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in the City of Santa Monica, CA where she was raised. Honoring her request and lifelong love for her husband Clarence "Larry" Lawrence who pre-deceased her, his cremated remains were placed beside her in her casket so they would be interred together.

Born on September 30, 1922, in Los Angeles, California, Doris grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1940. She was an enthusiastic member of the tennis team and continued to enjoy the sport during her life, along with the occasional round of golf. She furthered her education at Santa Monica College and attended a local secretarial school to refine the skills that would shape her lifelong career.

Doris worked for 52 years in her profession as a legal secretary, working for only three employers during that time -a testament to her loyalty and dedication. Doris served as President of the Santa Monica Legal Secretaries Association and held numerous other positions within the organization over the years. Her excellence was recognized when she was named "The Best Legal Secretary in Santa Monica." A unique item from her career exists in the form of a large metal binder shaped as a replica of the Liberty Bell-aptly named "The Liberty Belle"-which contains history and memorabilia from the Santa Monica Legal Secretaries Association. This historical item was donated posthumously to the Santa Monica Museum of History.

On May 23, 1947, Doris married her high school sweetheart Clarence "Larry" Lawrence upon his return from serving in the Army during World War II. Their love story spanned decades and was blessed with the arrival of their daughter Barbara in 1956. Doris embraced motherhood wholeheartedly. She also took great pride in maintaining a beautiful home and garden - all while continuing to work as a legal secretary.

Family was central to Doris's life. She cherished annual extended-family vacations to Lake Tahoe and shared a deep love for the family's English Bulldogs and cats. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, great-great aunt and - great great great aunt. Those who knew her remember her kindness and grace; as one nephew fondly recalled after her passing, "She never said a bad thing about anyone." Doris received her nickname "Bebe" from her beloved sister Phyllis. When first seeing Doris as a baby, Phyllis exclaimed "Look at the Bebe!" The name lovingly stuck with her throughout her life.

In her later years, Doris faced Alzheimer's disease with quiet strength until it ultimately took her home on January 2, 2018. She is survived by her daughter Barbara Lawrence Saevig and son-in-law Steven Edward Saevig, her step-grandchildren Christopher Saevig and Kim Saevig, and step-great-grandson Cameron Saevig. She is also survived by her loving nieces Diane (DeBurgh) Harris and Joan Stucker Goff and her nephews Rick DeBurgh and Doug DeBurgh. Doris's beloved niece Carol Stucker Larsen sadly pre-deceased her. Doris was predeceased by her husband Clarence Benjamin Lawrence on May 11, 1983; her sister Phyllis Elise DeBurgh; and her parents Helen Tobin Dudley and John Richard Tobin.

Doris's legacy is one of warmth, dedication, and grace. Her memory lives on in those who knew and loved her. She was a remarkable woman.