LAWRENCE, James Llloyd
The family of James Lloyd Lawrence (Jim) regrets to inform that Jim passed away peacefully at his home in Edson Alberta on Friday December 4th, 2015 at the age of 84 years.
Jim, The Fire Fighting Auctioneer as he became known here for his auctioneering and fire extinguisher service businesses, spent the last 50 years in the Edson area. Jim was born March 24th 1931 at the Drumheller hospital and was raised in East Coulee Alberta the 8th of 11 children. Jim was raised on a dairy farm and would work in farming until after he had met and married Margaret (Jean) Massam in 1952 in Sedalia Alberta. Jim became an automotive mechanic and eventually went to work for Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas in 1963 in Cessford Alberta. Jim and Jean were transferred by The Bay to Edson in 1965 with their family. They spent a short time in Fox Creek with the same company but they never lost touch with Edson and it would be their home until the end. Jim would eventually start Edson Auction Mart in 1973, a business that remained active until 2001. He then started a fire extinguisher service business in 1978 known as Lawrence Enterprises and would eventually sell that business in 1999. He pioneered the mobile fire extinguisher business which is now commonplace in industry, as his service busses rolled up and down the streets and highways of west central Alberta. Jim served on the board of directors for the Edson and District Savings and Credit Union and eventually would dedicate himself as a council member for the Yellowhead county before finally manning the local crime watch communication fan out system. Jim loved horses and especially the horses that accompanied him for a number of years, Fireball and Billy Joe. Due to this love he spent a number of years as an active member of the Edson Gymkana club as well as serving a number of years as the President of the Edson Rodeo Association.
Jim is survived by 3 children Jack (Charlotte) of Edson Alberta, Wendy (Roger) Huitema of Whitecourt Alberta and Ron (Maria) of Houston Texas, Son in Law Walter Arndt of Peers Alberta along with 19 grandchildren, 23 great grand children and 1 great great grand child. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters Laura of Mount Forest Ontario, Shirley of Whitehorse Yukon, Merle of Edmonton Alberta and Bill of Larnaca Cypress. Jim was predeceased by his wife Jean in February of this year, Daughter Shirley (Walter) Arndt in 1996, Grandson Master Corporal Raymond Arndt in 2006 and Great Grandson Jonathan Stad in 2008. Jim was also predeceased by his parents James and Pearl Lawrence and brothers and sisters Herschel, Ural, Marshall, Phyllis, Florence and Hester.
Jim enjoyed the company of his good friend and card partner Elaine Osborn toward the end.
Jim was a well known “character” around Edson with an infectious laugh and an interest to stop and talk to everybody, for this reason the family invites you to a celebration of Jims Life which was held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday December at 15, 2015 in the Royal Canadian Legion with a lunch to follow.
Seeing how Bob Joy had made the sacrifice of losing part of a finger working with Dad early on and dad found that so funny, we have entrusted the funeral arrangements to his Edson Funeral Home.
To send condolences on line, please visit our website at www.edsonfuneralhome.com
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olences on line, please visit our website at www.edsonfuneralhome.com