OBITUARY Stephen Lawrence Sr. June 3, 1948 – January 12, 2019 A husband, a father, a volunteer and a leader, Stephen Anthony Lawrence, Sr. was all that and much more. Perhaps it was too early … more vacations to the Caribbean needed to be taken, more softball games needed to be played and more Red Sox and Patriots games to be seen; more mistakes to be fixed and people to say sorry to … and definitely more fun filled and happy family times needed to be had. On Saturday, January, 12, 2019, at the young age of 70, Steve (as he was called) passed away while in the company of his family.
Steve was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts to the late Frank and Isabelle (Andrade) Lawrence and was part of a large family — 12 siblings … so there was never a dull moment. Throughout his life, he loved spending time helping others. He was a volunteer for Kiwanis for many years and even became the local chapter president.
From this point, he moved on to become a New England District Kiwanis Lt. Governor. When his son, Stevie (as the family calls him), played little league, Steve was there as his coach.
And, when it came time for the annual Boy Scout car derby, Steve was there to help his son build the fastest car. His daughter, Shauna, will cherish forever the evening talks with her Dad by the wood stove, anything about sports or life- it didn’t matter because it was time spent together just the two of them. Many friends and family members to this day remember the fun-filled summer pool parties Steve and his wife, Chris, often hosted throughout his life.
And, if you didn’t get a chance to go to one, you always missed a great time! Exchange students were also part of his life and he will never forget them. Steve was an entrepreneur at heart and after 20 years of working his way up from being a copier technician to an executive and partner at Smith Office Equipment Co., Inc., he ventured out on his own to proudly and successfully found two companies: CopyType Equipment Co., Inc. and Antiques & Things.
While there are many stories to share about his life – e.g. he was a sergeant in the Army Reserve, he loved to ski, lift weights, play softball, fix things, and build things – there just isn’t enough space to do it here. If you had the chance to meet him and be a part of his life in some way, we’re sure you have your own memories of him. Most importantly, he truly loved his wife, his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife – Christine E. (Guzaj) Lawrence; their son, Stephen A. Lawrence, Jr. and his wife Liping Kuo of Weymouth; their daughter, Shauna L. Gates and her husband Ryan C. Gates of Holden; and two grandchildren, Tucker W. Gates and Jackson A. Gates.
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