Norma Jean Lawrence

Norma Jean Lawrence

April 4, 1931 – December 14, 2015

Norma Jean Lawrence, 84, a longtime resident of Layton, passed away peacefully with her loved ones near her.  Mom was born April 4, 1931 in South Gate, CA, the daughter of Evalyn Evans and Charles Echols.  Mom was a country girl at heart and as a child learned to cook on a wood cook stove, milk cows better than her brothers and pick cotton. As a Navy wife, she had the opportunity to live all over the country. Raising her six children she gave them many opportunities to experience the different cultures and beauty of our country.  She easily befriended people from all walks of life.  Mom was a great story teller with her sharp memory and her expressive and animated personality.  She always had a smile.  She loved people and people loved her.  Being born during the great depression created opportunity for learning the value of hard work and creativity. She was a remarkably self-sufficient woman.  She excelled in whatever she put her mind to.  She was a natural at gardening.  She successfully canned all the peas from the family garden by herself at the age of ten because her mom was too ill to do it and she knew it needed to be done.  She truly understood the saying “waste not, want not” and applied that principle in all areas of her life.    She was an accomplished seamstress and an excellent cook.   Her dinner and cinnamon rolls melted in your mouth.  Mom loved to sing the Hymns and had a beautiful soprano voice.  She loved Country music and was asked to join a band, but declined because caring for her family was more important.  She was compassionate and had a special gift for nurturing and caring for children and the elderly.  Mom taught her children by example. 

Mom was a fierce protector of all things she held dear to her heart.  Giving up on someone that she loved was never an option.  Mom was a woman of great faith and she dearly loved her Heavenly Father.  Her testimony of Jesus Christ never wavered.  After her children were raised she was blessed to serve an LDS mission in Baton Rouge, LA as a single sister.  Upon returning home from her mission she enjoyed serving as the Stake Single Adult Representative.  Through several years of her service hosting single adult activities she witnessed many couples find happiness in eternal marriage.  Her lifelong dream finally came about when she met and married her eternal companion John Clifford Lawrence.  With her marriage to Cliff, her family doubled in size.  She moved to St. George and together they found happiness as they served a mission at the cannery.  She spent the last years of her life being cared for by family members as she battled her fight with Parkinson’s Disease.  Mom was blessed to have the best care possible by the compassionate staff at Inspiration Hospice and Heritage Park Care Center.  The family wishes thank all the sweet angels that cared for mom. 

Mom is survived by her husband Cliff, also by her brothers, Louis and Jennie Lee Echols, Charles Echols, Howard Echols, Kenneth Echols, and Daniel and Olga Echols and sister-in-laws Caroline Echols and Jean Echols.  Also by her children and step-children, James and Marilynn Gettings,  Donna and John Bush, Belinda Izzarelli, Vanessa Pebley, Lloyd and Shelly Gettings, Jackie and Eliane Lawrence, Lani and Roger Harward, Victor Lawrence, Clella Blakely, Mark Lawrence, Bobby and Charlene Lawrence, and Michael Lawrence.  Also by 90 grandchildren including spouses and many great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Marvin Echols and Gordon Echols and her only sister and brother-in-law Wanda and David Hendon, and sister-in-laws Faye Echols and Connie Echols.  Also her daughter Tina Phillips and son-in-laws Alan Phillips,  Bill Izzarelli, and Tom Blakely.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 18th at the Washington Terrace 7th Ward located at 4855 South 300 West, Washington Terrace, Utah.  A viewing will be from 9:30 – 10:30 am prior to the funeral at 11:00 AM.  Interment will be at the Farmington City Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.aaronsmortuary.com.