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Lawrence Surface Obituary
Mr. Surface passed away at 11:47 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at Ozarks Healthcare.
He was born Nov. 21, 1935, in Douglas County, Mo., south of Cabool near the little town of Ann, which no longer is a town or post office.
Lawrence received his early education in rural schools of Douglas County, in Iowa, and in West Plains, Mo., graduating in 1953. He attended Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) in West Plains and Springfield, earning a bachelor's degree in education in 1974 and completing a master's degree in 1983. Mr. Surface taught sixth grade in the West Plains R-7 District for 23 years.
On Jan. 11, 1955, he was married at China Union Church near West Plains to Joyce Lee Eades.
Mr. Surface was drafted into the United States Army in September 1958; he served in the medical corps and was honorably discharged in September 1960.
Lawrence was saved and baptized in Kellerton, Iowa, at the age of 9 years. He served many years as a church board member, Sunday school teacher, superintendent and Bible camp director.
He looked forward to going to work each morning as a sixth grade teacher. He served on Glenwood school board for several years, stirring within him an interest in going to college and becoming the teacher he was.
Lawrence was a builder, plumber, mechanic and a wonderful daddy and grandpa. He usually had a beautiful garden and loved sharing his vegetables with friends, neighbors and even strangers. Lawrence liked to travel extensively in the United States and Canada, and avoided the cold weather by wintering in Texas; he enjoyed fishing, camping, farming and especially being grandpa to his five grandchildren, something he never got to experience with his grandparents. His horses were his pets. His greatest desire was to meet all of his family in Heaven one day.
He is survived by his wife Joyce Surface; one son, Stacey Surface; one daughter-in-law Kaye; five grandchildren Jessica, Logan, Karissa, Cordel and Landen; four great-grandchildren; one brother Gayle Surface; several nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
His parents B. L. (Bud) and Gladys Surface, one son Calvin Lynn Surface, two brothers Burton C. Surface and Gerald E. Surface, one sister Leota Eades, his maternal grandparents John Calvin and Viola Denison, and his paternal grandparents Samuel E. and Litha Surface preceded him in death.
Visitation services will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main St., West Plains, MO 65775. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Lawrence Surface
1 Entry
Joann Blackburn
November 18, 2022
Prayers for Joyce, Gayle, and the rest of the family at this sad time. I went to grade school with Lawrence at South Fork, and to the church there where his mother was a Sunday school teacher.
Lawrence was a kind & gentle man, and will be greatly missed. The family of Joe & Vloice Blackburn
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