POTTSBORO
Thelma Sweeney Lawrence, 96, passed away Friday, October 27, 2017.
Thelma was born August 28, 1921 in Hagerman, Texas to Rushford Lee and Kathryn Elliott Sweeney. She married Preston O. Lawrence in Durant, Oklahoma and celebrated 72 years of marriage.
After her mom’s early unexpected death, she helped raise her brothers and assisted her dad in their grocery store and post office in Hagerman. She also ran her own laundry mat during her teenage years. Graduating from Denison High School at 16 got her an early start for attending TWU and Southeastern College. She was employed by the Hagerman School and taught until Lake Texoma covered the town. She was then transferred to the Pottsboro school system.
After Preston returned from the Army and WWII, they made their home on the farm and ranch. With a lot hard work, such as tractor driving, milking cows, and gardening, they put their children through college.
As her children grew she became an adult leader in 4-H. For 20 years, she taught many young people to cook, sew, and keep records of their projects. Sunday School teaching and VBS at Hagerman Baptist Church as well as a short stint as a cubscout leader filled her otherwise very busy life.
She kept her large family together with birthday, holiday meals and celebrations. No one ever left her house without eating. Even during her stages of Alzheimer’s she wanted to help in the kitchen.
She is survived by five children, Preston Lee (Carolyn), Anna, Texas, Patricia Sethaler (Bernie) of Spring Creek, Nevada, Donna Gattis (Bob), Helen Renfro (Roy), and Bart (Cindy), all from Pottsboro, Texas. She has 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, a very special sister-in-law, Stella Sweeney as well as a cousin Vera Kennedy.
She is preceded in death by her husband Preston, her parents and brothers, Rushford Lee, Jr. and Billy Davis Sweeney.
The family would like to give a “special thank you” to the caregivers at Brookdale Willows Memory Care, especially Donna Davis and her co-workers.
Services will be held Tuesday, October, 31, 2017 at 11am, Hagerman Baptist Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at 10am. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Family request memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association Dallas Chapter, 7610 North Stemmons Fwy, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75247 and to Hagerman Baptist Church, 4619 Refuge Rd, Sherman, TX 75092.
