La Grande, Oregon
Harold W. Laurence, 86, of La Grande died Aug. 5 at his home. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday Aug. 10 at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St. A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11 also at Daniels Chapel. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery.
Mr. Laurence was born in Dec. 9, 1919, to Joe and Daisy Hayward Laurence in Mount Vernon. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School, and married Raema Helen Davis.
He worked as a meat cutter and apprenticed to become a watchmaker. He was certified in 1946 and became a Master Watchmaker in 1948.
The couple opened jewelry stores in Wallowa, Enterprise and La Grande. Their first store in La Grande was a very small shop between the Granada Theatre and the J.C. Penny Store where the movie billboard is now.
After their sons, Jack and Eric, became watchmakers and began running the jewelry store with their mother, Harold became an insurance representative for Farmers Insurance. He retired from Farmers but continued to participate in the family store.
He was a life member of the Freemasons, a 50-year member of the La Grande Elks Lodge and past Exalted Ruler. He enjoyed fly tying, fly fishing and tinkering with various contraptions. His family turned to him for advice on every subject and never went away empty handed. He was a master of everything he put his mind to, and considered by his family a brilliant, loving human being.
Survivors include his wife of La Grande; a sister, Cecille Coleman of West Covina, Calif.; four grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Aug. 12, 2006, Published: August 14, 2006