WESTFIELD – Ralph Murray Lawrence, 80, passed away Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. He had been a resident of Aroostook Health Center for the past two years. Ralph was born Feb. 4, 1931, at home in Westfield, son of Murray and Alice (Hallett) Lawrence.
He attended Westfield schools and participated in town activities and Westfield Road Baptist Church during his lifetime. Ralph’s life was centered around family, farm and friends. He was a true Aroostook “son of the soil.” He learned the ways of the farm and equipment at an early age, following always in the footsteps of his hero, “Dad.” Ralph was not a person to enjoy being in the public eye, but from an early age he entertained friends and family with his great sense of humor in song and original quips. He was a master of mimicry. One had difficulty in knowing whether the voice coming from the barn was a beloved neighbor or just Ralph repeating something his friend had said to him earlier. The visits of friends were very important to him in recent years as his health deprived him of his usual active life. His big collection of hats were gained by donations of friends and relatives as they came by for a chat. He was never without his cap, a walking advertisement for towns, sports or Aroostook businesses. Ralph could usually be found at home on the Lawrence Farm, but was always ready for a ride at any time to check out the other potato fields in the surrounding area. The travels to more distant places such as Tennessee, Florida or around the state of Maine were enjoyable, but he didn’t want to stay too long. Ralph felt a need to be back “in the County.”
Ralph is survived by sisters, Annabelle Bridges of Windham, Marilyn Long and her husband, Charles, of Hermon, and Christine Sawyer of Gorham; brothers, Murray Jr., Maynard and his companion, Deborah Shaw, and Richard, all of Westfield; and two aunts, Annie Lawrence of Presque Isle and Nita Flannery of Southern Acres Nursing Home, Westfield. He was predeceased by his parents; beloved sisters, Eleanor, Irene and Janet; and brothers, William and Raymond. Although Ralph never married he felt that his many nieces and nephews regarded him as their very special uncle. Every picture they gave him was placed on the walls around where he could tell others who and where they were. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at AHC for their tender care, especially his niece, Andrea Long for keeping an eye on her uncle.
Friends may call noon until time of service Wednesday at Duncan Funeral Home, 8 Main St., Mars Hill, where funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. with the Rev. Larry Palmer officiating. Burial will be at Marshall Cemetery, Westfield. Donations may be made in his memory to American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1 Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074 Online condolences may be expressed at
www.duncan-graves.com.