Rachael “Ann” Lawrence unexpectedly passed away at the age of 79 on the morning of October 5, 2013. Born in St Maries, Idaho on April 17, 1934 to Harold and Betty Gray, Ann married Samuel Lawrence in 1962. She devoted her life to researching genealogy for not only her family, but for other families through her volunteered time with the LDS Family History Centers in Yakima, WA; Palm Desert, CA; Palm Springs, CA and Cathedral City, CA. Her research on German and French emigration into the United States and Canada has been used as reference by both the Canadian Broadcasting Company, as well as the LDS Church, with the tracing of her own family lineage back to Charlemagne.
As a mother of two sons and one stepson, she had been a Cub Scout den mother, as well as being active in the Granger, WA PTA. She has lived in many locations over her lifetime throughout Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Montana.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband Sam in 2001, and stepson Greg in 2010. She is survived by her two sons, David of Lake Stevens, WA, Joe of Polson, MT, and daughter in law Tracy, also of Lake Stevens, WA. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Chris, Michael and Samantha; as well as by her sister Joyce of Hemet, CA and her brother George of Minneola, FL; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and other ‘family’ members, and friends.
Although she may have left us physically, she will remain in spirit with all who knew and cared about her. Ann is now home with her family. She will be missed, but not forgotten, and not completely absent in presence.
A private ‘Celebration of Life’ will be held at a later date, with private cremation services being arranged by Grogan’s Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson. She will eventually be returned to the California Desert as a final resting place, where she can finally be warm again. As she believed that charity started at home, in lieu of flowers or other considerations, donate to a favorite charity, or just give to someone who needs help, as this was her way, and the way she taught her children to be and do.