Mr. Claude S. Lawrence

Claude Sellers Lawrence, age 88, of Marysville, died on March 16, 2015 with his family by his side. He was born on November 22, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Claude Bruce Lawrence and the late Cora Columbia Sellers Lawrence. He graduated from Walled Lake High School in 1943. He then entered the United States Navy and served in the Pacific on the destroyer USS Edwards from 1943 to 1946. On September 11, 1948, he married Alexa Maureen McManus in Orchard Lake, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1950. He owned Pengra Oil Company and its successor, By Lo Oil Company/ Speedy Q Markets. He was a pioneer in the self-service gasoline business in Michigan. He was a member and past president of the Private Brand Gasoline Marketers, the Michigan Petroleum Association and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers. He was past Commodore of the Lake Huron Yachting Association. Member of the Port Huron Yacht Club, the Sarnia Yacht Club, the Seven Seas Cruising Association, and the Great Lakes Cruising Club. Claude won his class in the 1970 Chicago to Mackinac sailboat race. He was a longtime volunteer at the Great Lakes Maritime Center at Vantage Point. After selling their gasoline business in 1980, he and his wife Alexa spent eight years touring the Caribbean and Mediterranean on their sailboat, the Phoenix. Their Mediterranean trip included two transatlantic crossings. Upon their return to the United States, he and Alexa enjoyed racing on the Sports Car Club of America circuit, including the 1993 national runoffs. After his wife Alexa’s death in 2008, he married Joanne Boyd on January 16, 2010. He was predeceased by his first wife Alexa, his oldest son, Claude Bruce Lawrence, and a granddaughter, Maureen Lawrence. He is survived by his wife Joanne, his daughter-in-law Bonnie Lawrence of Lapeer, daughters Christine (Thomas) D’Luge of Lakeport, Catherine Fisher of St. Josephs, Cynthia (Robert) Fisher of Brighton and sons Charles (Barbara) Lawrence of Fort Gratiot, Craig (Patricia) Lawrence of Fort Gratiot, Curtis (Patricia) Lawrence of Port Huron, Cameron (Karen) Lawrence of Grosse Pointe Woods and step-daughter Jodi (John) Wunch of Fort Gratiot. He is also survived by his grandchildren, William (Nicole) Lawrence of Howell, Erica (Shawn) Bashore of Indianapolis, Indiana, M. Kelly (Sara) Sax of Brownstown, Alison (Christopher) Mulliof Fort Gratiot, Tessa (Mark) Ernst of Grosse Pointe Woods, Kevin Lawrence of Fort Gratiot, Margaret Lawrence of Naperville, Illinois, Kyle (Amy) Lawrence of Fort Gratiot, Patrick Lawrence of Port Huron, Timothy (Chelsie) Lawrence of Port Huron, Cora (John Suchin) Lawrence of Lakeport, Claude (Emily) Lawrence of Columbus, Ohio, Alexa (Matthew) Mason of Denver, Colorado, Caitlin Fisher of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cameron Fisher of Denver, Colorado, Christine Fisher of Howell, Courtney Fisher of East Lansing, Carolyn Fisher of East Lansing, Emily Lawrence of Flint, Nathan Lawrence of Grosse Pointe Farms, Benjamin Lawrence of Grosse Pointe Farms, Peter Lawrence of Grosse Pointe Farms and step grandchildren Sean (Pepper) Wunch and Elizabeth (Aaron) Howard. He is survived by great-grandchildren Brook Lawrence, Akayla Bashore, Alexandra Sax, Jason Sax, Erin Sax, Sydney Mullin, Andrew Ernst, Elle Ernst, Charlie Ernst, Saskia Epperlie, Freya Lawrence, Odysseus Lawrence, Andrew Blockeel, John Suchin, step great-grandchildren Journey Wunch, Dillan Wunch, Brody Wunch, and Randa Howard. A Memorial Service will be held 12:00 p.m. Friday at Gateway Church of Marysville, 1234 Sixth Street, Marysville, Rev. Dallas G. Berry will officiate. Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Jowett Funeral Home, 1634 Lapeer Ave. at 17th Street, Port Huron and Friday 11:00 a.m. until the time of services at 12:00 p.m. in the church. Memorial tributes may be made to the Port Huron Museum. Veterans Honor Guard Alliance will conduct Military honors. To view obituary and share memories visit www.jowettfuneraldirectors.com

Mr. Claude S. Lawrence

November 22, 1926 - March 16, 2015