Like a true Oklahoma girl, Lawana always found time to fish and be outdoors. Her true passion was collecting owls and lamps from places that she traveled. When Lawana was collecting or fishing, she was sewing with her church group. Lawana was a member of Springdale Baptist Church of Oklahoma City for over twenty years and her legacy there will never be forgotten.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lee Ditmore; father, Jake Bowman and mother, June (Carpenter) Bowman-Smith.
Lawana is survived by her daughter, Monica Tinsley of Oklahoma City, OK; son, Rick Ditmore of Fort Cobb, OK; brother, Bob Bowman and wife, Ann, of Oklahoma City, OK; long-time friends, Nilo and Belma Florence of Oklahoma City, OK, and Lynn and Nancy Young of Oklahoma City, OK. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, three nieces, two nephews, and all her church family at Springdale Baptist Church.
A memorial service will be held at a later time in honor of Lawana’s life. She will be laid to eternal rest at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
When tomorrow starts without me, and I’m not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me I know you’ll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,
And said my place was ready now in heaven far above
And that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I’d always thought I didn’t want to die.
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you,
I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for awhile,
I’d say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be,
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me,
And when I thought of worldly things that I’d miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through Heaven’s gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great gold throne.
He said, “This is eternity and all I’ve promised you
Toda your life on earth is past, but there it starts anew.
I promised no tomorrow, but today will always last,
And since each day’s the same, there’s not longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting, and so true.
Though there were times you did somethings
You know you shouldn’t do.
But you have been forgiven, and now at last you’re free.
So won’t you take My hand and share My life with me?”
So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart.
For every time you think of me, I’m right here in your Heart.
