To all JT's Family and Friends,

I would  like to take the this time to thank you for all the cards, emails, texts, phone calls and carrier pigeons that you have used to  communicate since he had the tragic accident at the VA Hospital on Christmas Day 2017. He went to the emergency room for his a pain in his left foot. He called me to stay he would still make it in time for our Christmas supper.  Unfortunately,  they gave him some medicine which caused him to be without oxygen for 3 minutes, thus resulting in this person of great physical condition to be a prisoner in his body. After two birthdays in the St Joseph’s Transition Home, we were advised to place him in Hospice care. We did so last Friday with the thought he would be around for six months. We received a call yesterday 30 Mar 20 in the morning that my brother passed away. I am a very strong person, but this news caused me to silently cry with tears in my eyes. My wife of 36 years reminded me that it was the best way for him to go to Heaven, and God needed help handing out presents to the children. Some of you know he liked to collect teddy bears, dolls, bikes, and other  items to take to orphan children every Christmas.

You all know, he could be the life of the party, and at the same time he valued his privacy. What you don’t know is that he started his life on Aug 1952 in Concord, Ca. He was the third oldest of four brothers (I am the oldest).  Throughout his life, he excelled in so many things. When he was 10 years old, he became Indiana’s fasted swimmer. The Peru YMCA put a picture of him over the pool to honor him. For many years his record could not be broken. In high school, he was an amazing basketball player who could have gone on to great heights in that sport had he not be so stubborn (one of the traits that exist in the Lawrence Family). I am sure many of you have stories about this legend called Wild Man. Smile.

JT, as he liked to be called, became my best friend when he visited us 35 years ago in San Francisco. We picked him up at the airport with his suit jacket and scandals. My wife, Kim, quickly provided new shoes for him to wear. JT was my best man in our wedding on Lovers’ Point in Pacific Grove, California. He called the Golden Gate Bridge his own and would visit it every day. He wanted to be buried there, and we will honor his wish. We just got a great idea from one of his best friends to rent a boat and scatter his remains under the bridge. We will make that happen after we spend time with him (his cremation remains will be with us in Las Vegas for a while).

JT is not gone, just on one of his many trips that he forgets to tell people and surprises them by showing up to their door or dropping in on a class reunion. He said sorry he will not be able to make the 50th reunion because God has other plans for him. So no need to shed a tear ( I did that for you) or send flowers, just pray for him in your own way, and know we were lucky to have someone like him in our lives.

Love, Brady and Kim Lawrence