|
Jim "Spider" Lawrence
02-06-1949 - 10-10-2020
Class of 1966-67-68
Lexington, KY
Lawrence, James R. “Jim”, 71, husband of Patricia C. Muggeridge Lawrence, passed away Saturday, October 10, 2020 at his home. Jim was born February 6, 1949, in Benham, KY to the late Ernest E. and Nervetta Childers Lawrence. He attended a year at Lafayette High, a year at Tates Creek High, graduated from the Carolina Military Academy and was a graduate of Fugazzi Business College. He spent many years in the automotive business in Lexington and retired from James Motor Co. He was a member of the British Marque Car Club, Sports Car Club of America, a Kentucky Colonel, Sons of the American Revolution, a member of the Executive Board of American Cancer Society, Chairman of the Board at St. Agnes House, and was a founding member of Keeneland Concours de Elegance. Along with his loving wife Patricia, Jim is survived by his brother, Nicholas E. (Susan) Lawrence and mother-in-law, Ruby Muggeridge. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Carolyn Stong. The family would like to thank all his many friends who put on the 143 car parade. What a tribute to a person who spent his life loving automobiles! No services are planned at this time, due to COVID-19. Donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society for research on Leiomyosarcoma at lmsdr.org . Kerr Brothers – Harrodsburg Rd. is in charge of arrangements.
|
Randy Jennings (1963)
I will never forget the day I met Jim and Pat Lawrence, when they walked into the bar at the Campbell House Hotel in Lexington, KY on February 13, 2009. We were there for the first ever CMA Regional Reunion. Jim had helped me put this reunion together in Lexington. This was a first for both of us (CMA Regional Reunion), Jim took the bull by the horns, he found a hotel that was built by one of our 1963 CMA classmates Father, Don Campbell. He also found us a guest speaker. The current commandant at the former Millersburt Military Institute, In Paris, KY. The same school where Col. Leslie Blankinship was the president for 9 years. He also rounded up some MMI cadets that had also become CMA cadets in the first year at Maxton NC, Billy Lewis, Authur Smith, Tom Ward. He even convinced his brother Nick Lawrence who also was an alumni at MMI to join us at the mixed reunion. We could not have done that first regional reunion without Jim.
After that reunion in 2009 he never missed another CMA reunion. Jim and Pat also became our travel buddies, right up to the time Jim became ill with cancer we traveled the high seas and the back roads of at least a dozen states and countries. His jolly face and positivity (as Scott Blankinship called it) was always a welcome site. He will be missed be all who knew him.
It will be very hard for me to find another best friend like Jim "Spider" Lawrence. Please help me to convey our sincere condolences to Pat, her mother and Jim's older brother Nick.
Rest In Peace "My Best Friend Ever"
Patrick Biet Nolan (1970)
I am sorry for the loss of your husband. I was glad to have met him at the last two reunions. He was a nice guy to have known. I graduated from CMA 1970 . My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Peace be with you . God Bless you and your family.
Patrick Nolan CMA Class of 1970 from Winston-Salem,NC
Randy Jennings (1963)
Posted For Bill & David Bennett
Randy,
I told my brother, David, about Spider's death. He and Spider were good friends and he has many good memories of Spider. One that you might have heard. Spider was pretty heavy while at CMA. That is the reason everyone called him Spider. Well Spider was one of the Cadets who locked his knees while at attention. He tried not to; was told constantly not to but just naturally did. Many times he passed out and had to be carried off the field. One time he locked his knees and passed out. When he fell he broke his jaw. The doctor had to wire his jaw shut so it would heal. He ended up losing about 50 pounds because he could not eat. For a long time after that everyone started calling him by his given name, Jim. He no longer looked like a spider. Later, after regaining the weight, he became Spider again.
My brother has other good stories about Spider but that is his favorite.
Bill Bennett
Thomas Ward (1963)
Jim " Spider " Lawrence was a friend to all of we Cadets . Pat please accept my condolences on his loss. He fought a valiant battle against his disease that required every ounce of his grim determination . May God welcome him into His Heavenly Kingdom and may Jim Rest in Peace .
Tom Ward
CMA 1962-63
Peter Roussin (1968)
Pat please accept my deepest sympathies on Jim's passing. In 1967 when I came to CMA I was a fish out of water, but it was not long before Jim and I became fast friends. Jim along with Coy helped make that year one I will cherish forever. When I look at Jim's 1968 yearbook that is posted here I look fondly at the photo of us side by side on the rifle team and just smile. Jim truly was a special person and friend to all who met him.
Pete Roussin CMA 1967-1968
Randy Jennings (1963)
The following is a recap of my visit last week to Lexington. KY
Hello Everyone
I would like to thank the ones of you who donated for the flowers and to the American Cancer Society donation for Jim "Spider" Lawrence CMA Class of 1968, His wife and family asked that I thank you also.
I was in Lexington last week to visit our granddaughter who is a freshman at UK and had lunch with his wife Pat. I did not know it until I got to their house to pick her up that there was going to be a funeral. Pat told me that it was a very small funeral with just immediate family. She asked if Patsy and I would like to come since we were going to be there on the date of the funeral and of course we accepted. She told me that she still had to take Jim’s urn and some plants to the mausoleum before the funeral on Saturday. I offered to take his remains and the plants to the mausoleum with her before we had lunch Jim is in a beautiful mausoleum room at the Lexington Cemetary.
So after all the “Road Trips” that Jim had taken Patsy and I on over the last 11 years, I got to take Jim “Spider” Lawrence on his last “Road Trip” "What A Privilege"
"RIP My Friend"