Laurence Oliver Middleton

Reflections of His Life

Laurence Oliver Middleton

Laurence always represented the cream of anything he tried, because he always rose to the top! Being the middle child of three children born to Eric and Saundra Middleton, Laurence Oliver Middleton came into this world in a hurry born only 30 minutes after they arrived at the hospital on August 14, 1983 in Ventura, California. Laurence loved and excelled in school. His first award was first place in the 1st grade science fair at Hueneme Christian School. He was so proud and smiled so big he didn't even care that his front teeth were missing. Laurence was taught and trained in the way of Holiness and was a member of the Tried Stone Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Pastor E .L. White, Oxnard California. He was a faithful member of the Sunshine Band, Pastor's Choir, Purity Class, and Youth Departments local, district and state. Laurence always had a love for sports; football, swimming, roller blading and skate boarding from sun-up to sun-down if he had his preference.

Laurence completed high school in 2001 and immediately expressed a desire to enter the military. But not just any branch of service it had to be the US Marine Corps; seeing how he had completed two years of ROTC at Hueneme High School. So at the age of 17 Vz, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps, and completed basic training at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside California. Laurence was deployed to Osaka, Japan were he worked as an Intelligence Analyst for two years. Laurence returned stateside to San Diego, California, continued to be promoted and later deployed to Somalia aboard the USS Peleliu as a part of the Global War on Terrorism. In total he served five deployments.

During his deployment to Cherry Point, North Carolina the fruit of his marriage, Fiona J. Middleton was born. Oh what joy this baby girl brought into his life! This brought about a change and a new job with the military Aircraft Crash Fire and Rescue. His final deployment would be to Afghanistan. While deployed, his only son, Daniel L. Middleton was born. The tears of joy were released as he finally had the boy he always wanted; thank God for technology as he was able to hear the delivery via the phone.

After serving thirteen years in the U.S. Marine Corps., many friends & co-workers, many hellos and good-byes, Laurence left the Marines and returned to Las Vegas, Nevada where he obtained employment with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. He loved meeting new people and bringing laughter and joy to his job and would often speak of the exciting highlights of his day.

Laurence was preceded in death by his grandfather, David H. McLucas, Sr.; grandmother, Margaret Jackson; aunt, Lorraine Quails; uncles Herman Quails and Leonard Middleton.

The family left to mourn the loss of Laurence Middleton; one daughter, Fiona J. Middleton; one son, Daniel L. Middleton; parents, Eric B. and Saundra Middleton; sister, Leslie D. Middleton; brother, Lyndon E. Middleton; sister-in-love, Andraya Middleton; special brother/friend, Lawrence Stackhouse; grandmother, Frances J. McLucas; uncles, David H. McLucas Jr. (Sharon McLucas) James C. McLucas (Karen McLucas) and Ronald D. Middleton; aunt, Shirley Diane Moore (Pastor David N. Moore); one niece, Makayla Middleton and a host of cousins and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Downtown Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.