Iris L Lawrence

Iris’s life began on February 28, 1931 in Augusta. She is the daughter of Perry and Dorothy R. (McBee) Henman. She attended Butler County Junior College where she met F. Jay Lawrence. They were united in marriage in Augusta on December 31, 1950 Many years later, after she had started and operated Reveille Lane PreSchool, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in education from Wichita State University and later her Master’s. Iris was an educator at Washington School for many years. She later went on to teach Piano in the Music Department at Butler County Community College where she also attended journalism classes.
Iris was involved in many community groups from The Friends of the Library to Meals on Wheels. She was a volunteer at Susan B. Allen Hospital and also gave her time to the Tall Grass Prairie Center. Iris was a member of the First United Methodist Church, served her church in many roles, and loved playing in the handbell choir. She had many varied interests, such as quilting for family and friends, writing, and collecting and distributing poems. Her participation in the WSU Russian classes and Club gave her the unique opportunity to be an interpreter on a mission trip to an orphanage in St. Petersburg Russia. Iris and Jay traveled a lot in their retirement and they especially loved taking their grandkids on summer trips to Colorado.
Iris’s greatest joy was her family which includes her children Richard Lawrence and wife Sue of Overland Park, Dan Lawrence and wife Jane of Weatherford, TX, Rod Lawrence and wife Hatsie of Lenexa, Jim Lawrence and wife Diane of Winfield, Martha Lanpher and husband Curt of Lawrence, and Tom Lawrence and wife Stacy of Plano, TX; grandchildren Matt Lawrence and wife Karen, Brad Lawrence, Joe Lawrence, Kara Mays and husband Andrew, Lindsay Yuen and husband Garrett, Ali Geitz and husband Jon, Ben Lawrence and wife Jenna, Codi Lawrence, Sam Lawrence, Julie Allen and husband Joey, Brian Lawrence and wife Peggy,Adam Lawrence and wife Kayla, Renee Hartford and husband Brett, Brad Lanpher and wife Kirsten, Landon Lawrence, Ava Lawrence, and Hadley Lawrence; great grandchildren Cameron and Carson Geitz, Rachel, Mary, Graham and Grady Lawrence, Selah and Talita Hartford, and Jayce Yuen; brother Irvin Henman of Towanda and many nieces and nephews.
Iris passed away on October 5, 2018 at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband F. Jay in 2014, daughter Amy Lawrence and brothers Perry A. and Ivan L. Henman.
Iris’s family will be available at a visitation on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at Carlson Colonial Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. led by Pastor Mik King. She will be laid to rest in Walnut Valley Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions in Iris’s name may be directed to First United Methodist Church or Butler Community College Foundation. Please sign her online guestbook and leave a memory of Iris at www.carlsoncolonial.com.

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