Freddy Charles Lawrence, Sr., 74, of Center, Texas passed away on August 7, 2017 in Center. He was born on September 26, 1942 in Center to Rev. Fred Colquitte Lawrence and Ruth Watson Lawrence. Funeral Services for Freddy will be at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Pat Windham and Bro. Jerrod Nutt officiating. Interment will follow at Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at Mangum Funeral Home. 

 

Freddy was born and raised in Center and he attended school at both Center and Joaquin. He was no stranger to hard work as he spent an extended period of time working as a millwright at Brown and Root. He also worked at HB Zachry and McGill Maintenance for a number of years. He worked shut-downs later in life before retirement. Freddy met Patricia Stanley in the 70’s through a mutual acquaintance and the two were joined in marriage on April 7, 1979 at New Hope Congregational Methodist Church. Together they raised a beautiful family in Center. When Freddy was not at work, he could be found working as a cattle rancher. This was a true passion of his that he dedicated most of his free time to. He grew very interested in politics, investments, and other social and economic issues later in his life. Papa, as his grandchildren referred to him, would be described as a quiet and reserved man, but was witty and lighthearted when his family was around. 

 

Freddy is survived by his loving wife, Patricia; sons, Charles Lawrence of Texarkana, Arkansas and David Lawrence of Center; daughter, Melissa Munoz and husband, Alex of Center; sister-in-law, Jeanette Tinkle and husband Pat, of Tyler; grandchildren, Jeremy, Tara, John, Alexis, Avery, Mia, Elizabeth, Desiree, Victoria, Justin, Jonathan, Jeffery and Aaron; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous relatives and friends.

 

He is preceded in death by his parents; sons, Alan Lawrence and Greg Lawrence; great-granddaughters, Kendra and Melanie Barker; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bruce and Audrie Stanley; sister-in-law, Sarah Helms and husband, Charles. 

Serving as pallbearers are Jerrod Nutt, Sean Crouch, Darrell Johnson, David Lawrence, Charles Lawrence and Alex Munoz. Honorary pallbearer will be Arthur Thornton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 212 Gene Samford Drive, Lufkin, Texas, 75904 or visit https://donate3.cancer.org.

The family is being served by Mangum Funeral Home in Center, Texas. To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfuneralhome.com.