BOMBER MEMORIAL

RICHARD JOHN "RICHY/SLIM" LAWRENCE ~ Class of 1980
June 17, 1962 - March 3, 2015

~



Born June 17, 1962, Richy died suddenly on March 3, 2015.

He was born in Richland and graduated from Richland's Columbia High School in 1980. He continued his education at Columbia Basin College where he studied welding. During his long career as a structural ironworker his work took him from coast to coast as well as the north slope of Alaska.

Richy loved everything in nature and was at his happiest at home on Frosty Creek Road in Tonasket, WA. He was one of the last great mountain men who lived by the laws of the land. His handshake was his bond and his word was as strong as the iron he worked on. Hunting, fishing, and trapping were just a few of his interests and if he was not doing one of those then he was reading or preparing for the next outing.

Richy was a lifelong learner and while on the road would often take his fellow ironworkers to museums and spend hours looking at the masterpieces. He believed that life's greatest lessons were not always found in the halls of institutions, but instead between the bindings of a book, in the great museums of the world, on the rocky shores of the coastline, or bumping along on one of his off road adventures. He was a man who never spoke poorly of anyone and he had a smile for everyone he encountered.

Richy was preceded in death by his father Harry Lawrence, his step dad Michael Varley ('69), and his grandparents.

He leaves behind his mother Darlene Varley, sister Michele Lawrence, brother Steven (Kathy) Lawrence, and his beloved nieces and nephew: Kyle, Kimberly, Tiffany and Isabella; aunts and Uncles include Danny and Jeanie Chappel, Donna Steffensen, Daryl and Janet Chappel, Lindy and Ed Parkins, Sandy and Steve Doyle, Marilyn Lawrence and so many loving cousins. He is also survived by his chosen family; daughter Haley Banting, sister Tammy Gelenaw, niece Sheyanne Burrier, brother-in-law Joe Perez, grandmother Jeanie Varley, and very special friends Tom, Kevin, Bruce, Frank, and Scott as well as his ironworker family worldwide.

Our family wishes to thank the EMTs and emergency workers at Tonasket Hospital. Memorial contributions to a lifetime learning fund for his nephew and nieces can be sent to our mom, Darlene Varley who will oversee these funds.

There was a local celebration of his life in the Tri-Cities on Saturday March 28, 2015, as well as a memorial at his place over Memorial Day Weekend, details to follow.

Published in the Tri-City Herald on March 8, 2015.