Arlene Lawrence

Arlene Lawrence

Littleton, Colorado

Arlene Tuft Lawrence, 80, of Littleton, CO passed away on January 27, 2018 in Centennial, CO at the Porter Hospice Residence. She was born on December 17, 1937 in Monroe, UT to Leonard and Bernice Shurtz Tuft. Arlene grew up and went to school in Monroe where she was valedictorian. She received her degree in elementary education from Southern Utah College and taught school in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Duck Valley Indian Reservation, and Ogden, UT.; plus pre-school and adult reading. She married Jim Lawrence, a Forest Service ranger, on July 15, 1966.

Arlene and Jim’s life together was shaped by the Forest Service connection as they followed numerous assignments and lived in wonderful locations across the west, including Mountain City, NV; Jackson Hole, WY; Ogden, UT; Reno, NV; Pendleton, OR; Carlisle, PA at the U. S. Army War College; Littleton, CO; San Francisco Bay area; and finally returning to Littleton, CO upon Jim’s retirement. More important than the places were the people that Arlene came to know in the places they lived and the many lifelong friendships that she and Jim made.
She loved her family and her friends and touched many lives with her caring, positive, unselfish, loving, and supportive personality. Music was special to her and she played the piano beautifully by ear. Her home was decorated with special touches for the turning seasons and times of the year. Over the years she loved her dogs and they loved her. She had a knack for putting wonderful scrapbooks together.

She touched the hearts of many a child with her loving reading of nursery rhymes and books, singing of songs, playing of games and rodeo activities. Arlene always was thinking about everyone else. She gave, she cared, she remembered, and she touched all who knew her. She will be dearly missed by her family and by her friends.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, James A. "Jim" Lawrence; sons: Robert Lawrence, Arlington, VA; and John (Annette) Lawrence and granddaughters, Mackenzie and Mikayla, Newark Valley, NY; a brother Carl Tuft, Washington, UT; sisters-in-laws Joan, Doris, and Melody Tuft; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Helen Tuft Webster, and her brother Dr, Don Tuft.

Following her wishes, there will be a graveside ceremony at the Monroe City Cemetery, in Utah, this coming June. Details will be announced later. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com

The family is thankful for the loving care she received at the Porter Hospice Residence. Arlene loved the beauty of our country, the forests, rivers, mountains, fields, and farms and always wanted others to enjoy and appreciate these great resources. In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of her, donations may be made to either the:
Porter Hospice Foundation, Centennial, CO
Education Fund, the National Museum of Forest Service History, Missoula, MT. Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, NE
Heritage United Methodist Church, Littleton, CO