Phyllis O. Lawrence

Phyllis O. Lawrence

OBITUARY

Phyllis O. Lawrence lived her life to the very fullest as a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, wife, and dedicated Registered Nurse. She was born in Los Angeles, California on October 21, 1930, and passed peacefully surrounded by family on September 17, 2024, at the age of 93.

After graduating Marlborough School for Girls in 1948, she attended Occidental College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1952. She then proceeded to Yale University where she earned a Master’s degree in Nursing in 1957. Phyllis’s nursing career spanned 20 years, working as a private duty nurse on a thoracic surgeon’s special nursing team in Carmel, California early in her career, then as a school nurse in Alexandria, Virginia, on staff at two San Diego, California hospitals, and eventually helping the elderly at Ocean View Convalescent Hospital in Encinitas, California. Phyllis followed her nursing career by teaching nursing at Maric College of Nursing in Vista, California, where she was the vocational nurse program instructor until her retirement in 2004. While teaching nursing, Phyllis was also instrumental in helping Greg with his tax business, Lawrence Tax Service.

Growing up, Phyllis and her family spent summers at their beach house in Newport Beach, California and it was there that she met Gregory E. Lawrence, Jr., who was in her brother’s Lew’s class at Occidental College. Seven short years, on August 27, 1954, Phyllis and Greg were married and remained married until Greg’s passing in January of 2009. During their long marriage, Phyllis and Greg lived in numerous homes including Bangkok Thailand, and Okinawa, Japan. In 1962 Phyllis and Greg purchased their home in Solana Beach, California which they would eventually return to in 1971.

Phyllis was perpetually active and in her spare time enjoyed sewing, cooking, and vegetable gardening. Settling back into their home in Solana Beach and following Greg’s retirement from the Navy in 1973, Phyllis and Greg were active members of the community, joining a gourmet food group and regularly hosting bridge card games. For many years Phyllis was a member of P.E.O. and also volunteered as a docent at San Dieguito Heritage Museum after her retirement. Despite her busy schedule, Phyllis always had time for her family and family dinners were a staple. She was the epitome of a Navy wife, always supportive of her husband and children, and selfless to a fault.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her loving husband Gregory E. Lawrence, Jr., her brothers E. Llewellyn Overholt, Jr. and David Gates Overholt, and her parents E. Llewellyn Overholt, Sr., and Rosalind Martha Gates Overholt.

Phyllis is survived by her children Greg III and wife Carolyn of Jamul, Miles and wife Kim of Carlsbad, and Martha (“Matti”) McCleery of Denver, Colorado; her grandchildren Amanda and husband Scott McGimpsey of Fort Collins, Colorado, Gregory E. Lawrence, IV of Solana Beach, great-grandson Finn McGimpsey, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. What an amazing example she was of duty, generosity, and loyalty towards family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to make a donation in memory of Phyllis Lawrence to P.E.O., please click this link: https://www.peocalifornia.org/. A private memorial service will be held at Fort Rosecrans at a later date.