Lawrence B. Finch, 100, passed away February 26, 2012, in Liberty Missouri.  Lawrence was born August 13, 1911, south of Natoma, Kansas.  He was the son of Gavin and Pearl (Clair) Finch.

As a young man Lawrence attended Craig School and helped on the family farm.  He was united in marriage to Nellie Sanders on March 2, 1929. Early in their marriage Lawrence and Nellie lived on a rented farm along the Saline River. Because of the Great Depression and drought of the mid-1930’s their livestock was sold and Lawrence worked for the WPA through the fall and winter of 1934-1935. In the spring of 1935, Lawrence, Nellie and two daughters moved to Arizona. While there Lawrence worked as an operator of a mill which removed gold dust from ore, at a tungsten mine.
In 1942 the family, now with three daughters, returned to Kansas and Lawrence went to work in the Fairport oil fields. In 1954 Lawrence and Nellie bought a quarter section of land south of Natoma, which he farmed while continuing to work as an oil field pumper. He retired from Sohio Oil in 1976. In 1980 Lawrence and Nellie moved from the farm into Natoma.

Lawrence continued raising cattle after his retirement from the oil fields, and spent a lot of time with the family and friends, as well as doing a little traveling with their camper. In the winter his favorite pastime was coyote hunting with his dogs, especially if a grandson could come along. He also enjoyed fishing and he always managed to find something that needed fixing or something to build.
After nearly 75 years of marriage, Nellie passed away in 2004. Following her death Lawrence continued living in Natoma, but began spending more time with his daughter, Dixie, in Liberty, Missouri, eventually selling his home in Natoma and moving in with her.  While living with Dixie he became quite a bowler with his high score of 122.

Surviving family include his daughter Dixie Eggleston of Liberty, Missouri;  brother  Orval Finch of Mannford Oklahoma; 13 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 38 great-great grandchildren and 2 great-great-great  grandchildren.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Nellie; daughters Bernita Finch, Norma and her husband Gerald Thompson and infant daughter Barbara; 3 brothers Walter, Delton, and Cleo; sisters Grace Boyd and Ruby Urban and one Granddaughter Linda Welling.
 
A celebration of Lawrence’s life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on March 3, 2012, at the Paradise United Methodist Church in Paradise, Kansas, with Pastor Dennis Finch officiating.  Burial will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery in Natoma, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, March 2nd at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Friday night.   In Lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Paradise United Methodist Church or Angel Hospice and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.