03/27/2026
Frances Marion Lawrence
Frances M. Lawrence peacefully departed this life on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. She was an amazing and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. An absolutely beautiful soul, both inside and out. Despite her declining health in recent years, she remained steadfast in her love of God and her family.
Frances was born in Winfield, Kansas on March 3, 1930, to William H. and Donna V. (Bolack) Fox. She was the first of four daughters and was raised on a farm near Burden, KS. Her homemaking skills and work ethic were honed on that farm. She attended Eaton Community School through 8th grade and graduated from Winfield High School in 1948. She then attended Arkansas City Junior College and then transferred to Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. While there she accepted a ride back home from her roommate’s brother, Paul Lawrence. The following July 29, 1951 they were united in marriage at Tisdale Methodist Church in Winfield, KS. Frances helped Paul in his business and they welcomed 4 sons and 1 daughter to their family.
In 1959 they moved to Ponca City, OK to expand Paul’s business, Lawrence Concrete Products. They soon joined Hartford Ave. Church of Christ and she considered it her church family until her death. Frances served in many capacities, but will probably be best remembered for her wonderful cooking. In recent years Frances had been unable to attend in person but was faithful to participate in their online worship services.
For Frances, life revolved around her family. She was a true homemaker and caregiver. Her gifts were service and hospitality. Loyalty, patience, kindness, steadiness, and sweetness have been words used to describe her virtuous life. Raising and nurturing five children included cooking countless meals, doing mountains of laundry, chauffeuring kids to lessons, sporting practice and scouting events. She helped as a homeroom mother for all of her children and still found time to support Paul in his many business endeavors. In addition to “mothering” her own children, she was delighted to host several foreign exchange students from Belgium, Mexico, and Brazil.
Throughout her life Frances remained close to her father, mother, and sisters. Over the years, many trips were made back to the Kansas homestead to help with the wheat harvest, hay baling and other farming activities. In their later years she invited her parents into her home to live while serving as their caregiver.
Summers always included “parties” with her sisters and their families. That is, strawberry, peach, & sweet corn “parties” where vast quantities of produce were harvested, then canned or preserved on an, almost, industrial scale. What a joy and pleasure to the palate to enjoy summer’s bounty in the middle of winter. For all the pleasure and value of that preserved produce, what endures are the memories of hard work, tears, laughter, and the deepest of family connections.
As Frances’ children married and the family grew six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren were added. Again, she served this growing family by hosting innumerable holiday and birthday gatherings.
Many wonderful meals will be remembered by those she hosted or served. She was a skilled cake decorator and enjoyed making assorted candies at Christmas time that were shared with family and friends.
Some of Frances’ hobbies included traveling, cross-stich, reading, jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles. She had a love for all kinds of music and played clarinet in the school band as well as the piano.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her 3 sisters, Gladys Roth, Dorothy Westervelt, Iliene Scheffe, her husband, Paul and son Dale Lawrence.
She is survived by sons, Byron Lawrence and partner Raye Hall of Arvada, CO; Keith Lawrence of Ponca City; Neal Lawrence and wife Julie of Ponca City; daughter Donna Sodowsky and husband Rick of Norman, OK;. and daughter-in-law Denise Holloway and husband Terry Holloway of Ponca City. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Britany Lawrence and partner Devin Loehrs of Edmond, OK; Jill Hanson and husband Ryan and children Makayla, Winnie and Holden of Norman, OK; Andrew Lawrence and wife Renee of Dayton, OH; Jodi Smith and husband Justin and children Landon, Kash, and Laikynn of Newkirk, OK; Keri Jones and husband Stephen and children Elle and Daphne of Goldsby, OK; and Emily Barbosa and husband Christian of Shawnee, OK. Also, one brother-in-law Darrell Westservelt and wife Lea of Manhattan, KS as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A family visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at Grace Memorial Chapel, 2016 N. 14th Street, Ponca City, OK
A funeral service and celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday,
April 3, 2026 at Hartford Ave. Church of Christ, 1905 Joe St., Ponca City, OK. Burial immediately following at Resthaven-Sunset Memorial Parks, Ponca City, OK
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to:
Hospice of North Central Oklahoma hospiceofnorthcentraloklahoma.org
Westview Boys Home westviewboyshome.com
The family would like to thank the staff at Bradbury Commons and Hospice of North Central Oklahoma for the care and friendship shown to their mother.
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