September 30, 1926 – January 23, 2013

Lawrence Blair Carley, age 86, of Gatesville, passed away Wednesday, January 23, 2013, surrounded by his family.

A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2013, at Scott’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Dave Barclay officiating.

Lawrence was born on September 30, 1926, in Riverview, Florida, in Hillsboro County, to the late Norma Anna Adams and Linus Frank Carley. He married Inez Geneva Cantrell in Tampa, Florida, on February 9, 1947. Lawrence and Geneva were married 63 years until her death parted them in 2010. They have been reunited once again.

Lawrence was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who loved his family. He and Geneva were members of Live Oak Baptist Church, where they faithfully served the Lord until departing this life to join Jesus in heaven.

Lawrence was a WWII war veteran, having served on the USS Idaho Battleship. He proudly served his country for 20 years in the Navy and Army. After retiring from the military, he and his family settled in Gatesville. Lawrence worked at the State School for Boys for three years before returning to Florida to help care for both his parents and also for Geneva’s parents. There, he began another 20-year career working with Racetrac Petroleum, traveling wherever the job carried them throughout the southeastern portion of the United States.

In 1982, Lawrence and Geneva returned to Gatesville, where they retired. Lawrence was a master carpenter and he generously volunteered his time and talents to the church and community. He was a “handy” man by all means and was always there to give a helping hand. He helped build and remodel many of the existing buildings at Live Oak Baptist. He took great pleasure tending and working his garden and sharing the many fruits and vegetables it yielded with family and friends. Most recently, his favorite pastime was spending time with his youngest great-granddaughter, Tenley, who loved her “Gampa.”

He was preceded in death by his wife, Geneva, his parents, two brothers, four sisters, many brothers- and sisters-in-law, and one granddaughter, Melody Palmer.

Lawrence Carley is survived by he and Geneva’s two daughters, Linda Ash of Fort Worth, and Sandra Palmer and husband, Bill of Gatesville; son, Dwayne Carley and wife, Alane of Houston; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and Lawrence’s brother, David Carley and wife, Pat of Independence, Kansas.

The family requests that memorial gifts be made in honor of Lawrence Carley to Live Oak Baptist Church at 103 FM 107, Gatesville, TX, 76528.