on July 16th 1926 at home on a farm in the Ellicott Colorado District He had received an injury at birth
which resulted in a palsy condition, but he was a stubborn tenacious child and hung in and onto life to
be able to walk on his own. Lawrence had several nicknames Junior-Sonny Skeet Larry and J.R.
Harding's are great for nicknames. He lived at home with his Mother Ethel and Father Lawrence (Dusty) until his Aunt Opal Harding Nolan thinking she could correct some of his injuries by using Chiropractors took him to live with she and Uncle Hugh Nolan in California. Hugh was a moving section Gang Foreman on the railroad. Lawrence stayed with them for approximately 4 years. Aunt Opal Nolan home schooled him using mainly the bible as the instruction book. When he returned home to the farm and to school, he was misplaced into the same 4th grade class as his 4 years younger sister Lorraine Belle. They Lorraine and Lawrence continued on through Calhan elementary and Calhan Union High School graduating together from Calhan Union High in 1948. After graduation Lawrence stayed on and worked with his father on Dusty and Ethels Ranch until his father's ill health forced them to sell the ranch. After the ranch was sold, he worked for a short time as a Dairy herdsman for his uncle Ellis Harding (June was his nickname) until he fell on an icy step going into the barn. He decided there had to be an easier and more financially gainful way to make a living.
He went to work as tenaciously as ever for the EI Paso County road repair working his way up to the
head of sign repair and maintenance. He loved that job. He was pretty much on his own taking care of
his roads and signage up until his retirement after 25 years of service.
After retirement he always had some project that he was working on to keep busy. After his mother
Ethel retired and then she lost her eye sight, they took care of one another until her death at 100years
and 5 months. He was a little lost without her. When he started falling and was unable to get backup up on his own He decided to check himself into Simla Good Samaritian Nursing Home ,with Joanie Lawson's help. Along with Jeanie, Richard Carter was his emergency team.
He lived there until April 4, 2019 when he departed this earth while peacefully sleeping.
Lawrence is survived by sisters Lorraine Belle Harding Morgan and Thelma (Teddie)Ann Harding,
Houseman Thomas, Sister-in-law Barbara and numerous nieces and nephews and also Great nieces and
nephews. He was proceeded in death by his Mother Ethel, Father Lawrence (Dusty), younger brother Lonnie Kay Harding and several brothers-in-law, as well as 2 nephews.
A life- well- earned and well lived.
