Roger Allen Lawrence

Roger Allen Lawrence, 58, of Blackduck, died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Cease Family Funeral Home in Blackduck with the Rev. Dwight Warden officiating.

He was born Nov. 27, 1950, to Leigh R. and Erma M. (Jackson) Lawrence in Cottage Hills, Ill. He was raised in Illinois. He went to work on the barges on the Mississippi River before he entered the U.S. Army in 1968. He served during the Vietnam War. He married Yvonne Stiles Aug. 15, 1987, in Lonsdale, Ark. He had many jobs throughout his lifetime and lived many places. He lived with the Havasupai Indian Tribe near the Grand Canyon for many years. During his time in the Grand Canyon, he guided tourists on mule rides into the canyon and was a ranch hand for the Rex Walker Ranch in Colorado. He also worked in raising stables in Arkansas, was a Ferrier, built fences and was a mechanic. He loved leather working, art painting, playing guitar and riding horses.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, of Blackduck; daughter, Brandy Penelope Lawrence of Germany; step-son, Randy Aaron Denley of Arkansas; a grandson; a granddaughter; sister, Pat Bedwell of Florida; brothers, Page Lawrence of Illinois, Joe Lawrence of Arizona and Bobby Lawrence of Florida; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com.