This service will be streamed through Facebook live at this link: Arnold Funeral Home Facebook

Patricia Lee Wirth Lawrence, 91, of Mexico, passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at her home.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 31, at St. Brendan Church with Fr. Dave Veit officiating.  Burial will follow in East Lawn Memorial Park.

Visitation is Wednesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Arnold Funeral Home with a Rosary recited at 6:45 p.m.

Patricia Lee Wirth Lawrence was born to Harold and Loretta (McDonald) Wirth on November 26, 1931, in Quincy, IL.  She married Everett O. Lawrence, Jr. (deceased) in 1953, whom she later divorced.

As a child, Pat moved to Mexico, MO and called it home.  After their marriage, EO was drafted to the Army. They lived in Panama during this time and Pat worked for the Surgeon General as a secretary.

Pat was a stay at home mom until her youngest was about ready to start school. She was hired at A.P. Greens in 1974 where she began in the steno pool.  After almost 25 years of proudly serving in numerous roles at A.P. Greens, she retired as the Executive Secretary to the President of Greens in Mexico, Missouri.

Travel was a favorite activity. When her children were young they traveled to most of the states in the US plus went to Mexico and Canada.  Many knew Pat as having an adventurous heart and traveling the world.  She cruised the Alaskan waters, walked the holy lands of Jerusalem, walk the passion in Jerusalem, saw the Wailing wall, went to the Coliseum, St Peter's, saw the home of Ann Frank, visited Greece, saw The Phantom of the Opera in England, whale watching in Alaska, swam with the dolphin and stingrays, rode horses into the sea, snorkeling and zip-lined through the rainforests of Belize.   She loved parasailing, family reunions, and her church.  Her favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon was go to the movies with a friend.  She knew how to fly a plane; she jumped out of a plane, rode in a helicopter, and a hot air balloon. She was very adventurous.  She was never one to turn down an opportunity to make a new memory especially if her family was involved.

She enjoyed her work out classes at the YMCA. Once she joined the YMCA she also participated in water aerobics for a while and resistance training as well as chair classes.  She loved going to the YMCA and most weeks she would go five times a week.

Visiting friends and walking around Teal Lake were daily activities for most of the past 40 years. She knew that her friends kept her going and she was blessed to have many.

Most of all she enjoyed her faith and family. There is nothing she wouldn't do for both. She enjoyed it when her children or grandchildren would come to visit. She would enjoy coffee in the morning and wine with chocolate in the evening. There were countless times that she went to plays with her sister and/or some of her children and grandchildren.  She loved going to plays!!

She never met a stranger and all that met her loved her.  It's truly amazing to see all the lives she touched in her 91 years. We will truly never know the impact she made while with us.  What we do know is that in the meantime she will be looking down on us, her family, her legacy, with pride.

Even though her time here is complete, we are confident that she is looking forward to her next adventure with Jesus!

She is survived by her 9 children:  Everett O. (Butch) Lawrence, III of Overland Park, KS, Mark Lawrence of Overland Park, KS, Mary (Doug) Giesler of  Overland Park, KS, Pam (Terry) Howe of Lawrenceville, GA, Sue (Frank) Lukenbill of Columbia, MO, Matt (Diane) Lawrence  of Cary, NC, John (Mikki) Lawrence of Lenexa, KS, Mike (Paula) Lawrence of Shawnee, KS,  and Julia (Dave)  LeRoux of Hartselle, AL. and 24 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her sister, Paula Crawford of Columbia, MO and her brother Phil (Mary Anne) Wirth of St. Augustine, FL.

Pour a glass of wine and grab a piece of chocolate, sit back,  relax, and remember Pat fondly until we all meet her again.

Memorials may be made to St. Brendan Church, 615 S Washington St, Mexico, MO 65265.