Ruth Lawrence

Mrs. Ruth Elise Lawrence, 88, of Navasota, passed away Monday, May 17, 2010 at the College Station Medical Center. A parish rosary will begin at 5pm Wednesday, May 19, followed by a visitation until 8pm at Nobles Funeral Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30am Thursday, May 20, at Christ Our Light Catholic Church with the Reverend Raul Marterior officiating. Rite of committal will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
Elise was born on September 28, 1921 in White Hall to Edward Franklin Sullivan, Jr. and Ruth Elizabeth (Meineke) Sullivan. She was the first of six children, and "Tookie", as she was known to her family, always took on a mothering roll in relationship to her siblings. Maybe because she was the oldest of the bunch, she was very much in the nurturing mode when it came to her siblings.
Elise attended grade school at Yarboro School in Yarboro, TX, and entered the Navasota school district when she began the eighth grade. She graduated from Navasota High School in 1939. She then attended Southwestern Business University in Houston and completed a general business course in 1941. She was a former president of the Student Council and one of the most accomplished students. After graduation, she was placed with the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company.
While working in Houston, she met Edmund James Lawrence from Newburyport, Massachusetts, who was stationed at Ellington Field as a corporal in the U.S. Army. They married May 7, 1943, in the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. To this union four children were born. After only nine years of marriage, when her youngest child was only four months old, Elise was faced with losing her husband in a tragic accident while he was working as a heavy equipment operator for the Texas Highway department.
With four children to raise, she was fortunate to be able to move into the home of her mother and father on the outskirts of Navasota. She began working at the Security State Bank but was soon approached by Dr. S.D. Coleman to work as his personal secretary and medical clerk at the Navasota Medical Center. She accepted the position and worked for the doctors in Navasota for 46 years before she was forced to retire because of failing health.
During her tenure at the Medical Center, she touched the lives of many people in Grimes County and surrounding counties. She considered it a pleasure to work for the talented doctors she was so fond of and enjoyed her work with the public. She remained steadfast friends with Dr. L.O. Coleman and Dr. Bill Conkling until their passing. Some of her best friends were her co-workers, and she spoke fondly of all of them. Her main job as an employee was not to take care of patients or to keep up with the day to day operations of the facility; it was to make the eggnog for the annual Christmas party.
Elise enjoyed being a mother and grandmother to the fullest. At the time of her death, she had been blessed with nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The school events and sporting events she attended through the years for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were many. She was happiest when she was taking care of people. She not only took in stray animals, she took in stray children. Many of the nieces and nephews as well as her children's friends spent many happy times in her arms and at her dinner table. She never turned anyone down when they needed to be cared for and loved.
While a resident at the Sheridan Nursing Home, Elise felt it was her duty to oversee the treatment and care of the other people there. While she was able, her daily routine was to sit in the lobby and watch as the day unfolded to make sure the staff members were doing their work and that the other residents were being cared for to her satisfaction.
When she had time, Elise enjoyed being involved with other members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the American Legion Post in Navasota. One of her most honored accomplishments was being selected as Grimes County Employee of the Year.
Elise is survived by her sisters, Carol Dutton & husband Granville of Dallas, Marianne Hayes of Bay City, and Martha Jonas & husband Ed of Wimberly; brothers, Edward "Bud" Sullivan, Jr. & wife Joan of Navasota and Bob Sullivan & wife Marilyn of Navasota; daughter, Betsy Bosse & husband Neal of Navasota; sons, John Howard Lawrence & wife Glenda of Brenham, James Lawrence & wife Jeanny of Navasota, and Richard Logan Lawrence & wife Mikky of Navasota; grandchildren, John Lawrence & wife Susan of Navasota, Chuck Lawrence & wife Kacie of Navasota, Sandra McKeown & husband Jay of Bellville, Kevin Bosse & wife Ginger of Brenham, Eddie Bosse & wife Michelle of College Station, Clay Ferguson & wife Sarah of Austin, Michael Lawrence & Brian Lawrence both of Navasota, Alyssa McKay & husband Chad of Bryan, Chris Becker & wife Penny of Wisonsin, Lisa Becker of Wisconsin, and Catie Krueger of Independence; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Johnny & Patsy Lawrence and Martin Lawrence all of Nokomis, Florida.
Serving as pallbearers will be the grandsons.