Lawrence G. Stanley

Lawrence G. Stanley was born September 23, 1920 on a farm near May in Ellis County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Oscar Frances and Jessie Stanley. Lawrence was raised with his twin brother, Leonard Wilbert in Ellis County, attending school at Luther Hill School. In 1936 he moved to the farm of his grandfather, George W. Stanley, as his grandfather's health necessitated Lawrence's assistance in daily operations of the farm. He graduated from high school in 1941 while continuing to help run the farm.

Shortly after graduation from high school, Lawrence was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Army. After his induction on August 15, 1942, Lawrence was stationed in California and Florida before being assigned to the 1716th Signal Service Company serving in New Guinea, Luzon and the Southern Philippines as a radio operator. For his service, Lawrence received the following decorations and citations, American Theatre Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with on star. Lawrence was honorably discharged and returned to Oklahoma on November 1, 1945.

Lawrence returned to the Woodard, Oklahoma area after his discharge and immediately accepted employment on a farm. He later accepted a job moving houses for the Bernie Ward Company and then with the City of Woodward. In 1951, Lawrence moved to Osage County where he operated a ranch of over one hundred head of cattle for several years. After the completion of the Keystone Dam, Lawrence then accepted employment with State of Oklahoma as a maintenance worker in the Park Department, retiring in the mid 1980's. He also was later employed by the City of Osage, picking up trash for the residents.

Lawrence was married to the love of his life, Mayme Lorena Ahner Hicks on June 30, 1965. The couple made their home in Osage until the death of his wife on September 19, 1981. Lawrence never met a stranger, he loved to visit with anyone, especially his family and friends. He also enjoyed watching ballgames, home cooking, coon hunting, playing pitch, having fun with children by teasing and providing them with candy and gum, dogs and his old pickup truck.

Lawrence passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2005 at his home in Osage at the age of eighty-four years, ten months and one day. In addition to his wife, Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Gerald, a sister Freda; step sons Ted Sanders, Charles Dean Sanders, John Sam Sanders, and Clyde Arnold Sanders; and a grandson, Terry Goddard.


Lawrence is survived by his twin brother, Leonard Stanley, Turlock, California; a brother and his wife, James and Delores Stanley, Phoenix, Arizona; sister, Francis Whiteman, Lahoma, Oklahoma; sister, Betty Wilson, California; sister and her husband, Joan and Herbert Waddle, Kaw City, Oklaoma; sister and her husband, Joyce and Ray Lozano, Everett, Washington; step-daughters, Betty and Jim Goodard, Osage, Oklaoma and Sherry and Kenny Owens, Osage, Oklahoma; step-sons, Billy Eugene Sanders, Dewey, Oklahoma and Hugh Smith, Mannford, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, August 1, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Osage with Rev. Dean Switzer officiating. No services are planned at the cemetery with Chapman-Black Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Lawrence G. Stanley at www.chapman-black.com.