William R. "Bill" Lawrence

William R “Bill” Lawrence Jr was born August 23, 1932, to Robert and Inez Glaze Lawrence in Corsicana, Texas. He passed from this life on February 17. 2022, in Decatur Tx at the age of 89. Graveside services will be held April 16, 2022, at 1:00 PM in Dumas Cemetery, with Rev Eddie Tubbs officiating. Burial is under direction of Beeson ~ Morrison Funeral Directors.

Bill graduated from Dalhart High School in 1949. He married his high school sweetheart, Cathy Harton, in 1951 in Hobbs, NM. He worked for many years in the oil field, until becoming a Texas DPS Trooper in 1966. At that time, he and his family moved to Dumas. After serving almost ten years as a DPS Trooper, Bill decided to try his hand at farming. Many family members and family friends joined in to work on the farm with 'Uncle Bill”. He later worked for Phillips Petroleum until his retirement in 1996.

After the loss of his first wife, Cathy in 1996, Bill married Loretta Corbitt. They made their home in Amarillo and eventually moved to the McKinney area to be closer to family. Bill spent his last years in Springtown Tx with his daughter and family. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Springtown.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Cathy; brother Jerry; and grandson Matthew Bryant Ball.

Survived by his wife, Loretta; daughter, Diane Ball and husband Jim of Springtown; Brenda Garth and husband Dirk of Cypress; son Ricky Corbitt and wife Kristen of Colorado; sister Janice Ruth of Longview; grandson Jim Ball and wife Kristi of Fort Worth; granddaughter Kristi Kelly and husband Jim of Cypress; great grandchildren Matthew Ball, Kyler Ball, Kendall Kelly, Avery Kelly and Emery Kelly.