Betty Jo Lawrence

Betty Jo Lawrence, 83, died Thursday, October 30, 2014, at her home of 50 years in Maple Acres, Princeton. She was born Betty Jo Harper on January 31, 1931, to the late Juanita Mary Bowen and William Harper in Charleston. She attended East Bank High School and Morris Harvey College to become a career woman, she started her career at Dunn & Bradstreet in Charleston and where she met her future husband when he almost ran over her with a truck. She married and moved with him to Parkersburg in 1962, then later to Beckley and then on to Princeton, where they raised at least three children. She became the office manager for Underwood Brothers Paving later Bluestone Paving. She retired from St. Clair Foods, all in Princeton. She was the owner of Lawrence Mobile Home Park in Green Valley and was most proud of being a good mother figure to many more children than she bore. She served as president of The Valley Women’s Club circle1969, and was Beta Sigma Phi “Girl of the Year” 1975. She was recognized as significant fund raiser by American Cancer Society in 1981 and received many accolades from the Princeton Little League when her grandchildren played ball. She was a Christian and a former Sunday school teacher. She was preceded and led into eternal life by her parents; her husband, P.J. “Skip” Lawrence; a sister, Frances Jarrell; and daughter, Anne Patrick. Betty is survived by and will be greatly missed by her daughter, Deborah L. Streeby and husband, Mike of Princeton; son, Paul Lawrence, also of Princeton; sister, Dorothy Usalis of Phoenix, Ariz.; and brother, Larry AL McCormick and wife, Sandy of Fredericksburg, Va.; grandchildren, Angela, Chipper, Joseph and Michael; nieces, Becky, Debbie, Gey, Jackie, Kathy Rami, Ruthann and Sara; and nephews, Bryan, David, Darrel (D.L.), Gary, Greg, Jeffery, Jerry, Larry Gary and Troy. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 5, at the Mercer Funeral Home Chapel with the Minister Tony Reed officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Friends and family will serve as pallbearers. The family suggest in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 921 W. Neville Street, Beckley, WV 25801. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com. Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Betty Jo Lawrence.

Betty Jo Lawrence

January 31, 1931 - October 30, 2014