Therelene Joyce Lawrence-Greenspun

On Sunday, November 5, 2023, Therelene Joyce Shelton went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therelene (Terri) was born on May 2, 1936 in Merced, CA. She grew up as a preacher’s kid in many places in California, including Cudahy, the Greater Los Angeles area,

and Crescent City.

After High School graduation, she married Stan Bowman and they had three daughters. They lived in Southern California and were divorced in the mid-1960’s. Her second marriage was to Robert Hart Lawrence who had three children from a previous marriage. Together they had another daughter. The two blended families, which totaled seven children, enjoyed many days of laughter and chaos. Terri loved music, and played the piano beautifully.

In the mid 1970’s, she and Hart moved to the Oregon Coast and lived in Reedsport for several years. They moved back to Southern California in mid 80’s and lived, mostly, in the Camarillo area. Terri loved Southern California, especially the beach, and wearing flip flops. Hart and Terri worked

managing a large apartment complex. Anyone who met Terri heard the “one song” she had to sing, which was the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ. After Hart passed in 1998, Terri continued to manage the apartment complex. Her third marriage was to Kenneth Greenspun in 2010. After ten years of marriage, he passed away, and Terri’s health declined due to a lung disease.

She loved going to Starbucks with her large Mickey Starbucks button on and always gave them her name of “Joy”. She loved the pelicans that frequented the California Coast and called them her “Omen”. She brought her kids up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord”, always reminding them that “It’s not what you DO, but Who you TRUST!”. She loved her little yellow Miata and drove one for over 20 years around the Camarillo area. Her license plate said “Alien”, showing that she was “not of this world”. She had many “adopted” kids, though not legally, definitely in the Lord. They all can hear her voice reminding them Who is in control, and “That’s what you get for thinking!” She also raised her kids to appreciate another of California’s finest: See’s chocolates.

Terri is preceded in death by her parents and three siblings. Also, Step daughter, Debbie. She is survived by her daughters, Kay (Tom), Dianna (Jim), Linda, and Jeannette (Gregg), step daughter, Dawn, and step son, Bobby. She is also survived by over 9 grandkids, over 20 great-grandkids (thus earning the name “Terri-the-Great”) and a large host of honorary kids and grandkids.

She will be missed by all. Thankfully her legend of a Godly heritage lives on. Graveside service will be held Monday, December 18, 2023 at Riverside National Cemetery at 11:30 am.