Kent Lawrence

Curtis Kent Lawrence, age 68, of Iola, Kansas, died Sunday, October 30, 2011, in a car accident just south of Olathe on Highway 169. Kent was born November 11th, 1942 (and was looking forward to his "special" birthday this year on 11-11-11) in Smith Center, Kansas. He and his parents, John M. and Winnifred L. Lawrence, and younger brother L. Bret Lawrence, moved to Iola in 1952, where he remained until he went to college at Kansas State University. He lived in Missouri for several years while in the Air Force Reserve out of Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, then moved back to Iola in 1979. He bought the Iola Abstract Company in the early 1980's, and moved it from the northwest corner of the square to the east side of the square. He ran it until 1999, when he sold the business and relocated to Amarillo, Texas. He had moved back to the Iola area within the last 5 years. Kent loved the humor in life and was never short on jokes and stories. He enjoyed camping and canoeing in his younger days, and even ran a Scout troop while in Nevada, MO, in the 1970's. He taught his children about the love of the outdoors through many canoe trips over the years. He also was involved in his kids' sporting activities, occasionally coaching teams. In his twilight years, he quieted down his activities and lived vicariously through online computer games, most recently Star Wars. Kent is survived by his mother, Winnie of Iola; brother, Bret of Olathe and his family: wife, Linda, sons Bryan and John, daughters Brooke and Allison, and their respective families; all 3 kids: Amy Lawrence of Huntsville, MO, and her fiance' Chris Cleeton; Kathi Matthes and husband, Mark of Lee's Summit, MO; and Jacob Lawrence and wife, Amber of Iola; and 5 grandkids: Jesse & Wyatt Matthes and Jadyn, Jersie, and Jaxten Lawrence. He was preceded in death by his father, John Lawrence in 1984. Cremation has taken place. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 1:30 p.m., Friday, November 4, 2011, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Iola. Rev. Trudy Kenyon Anderson will officiate. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website, www.iolafuneral.com .