Dan Roger Lawrence passed away in the hospital with his family surrounding him on Monday October 28th. He fought a month and a half long battle with an infection that eventually caused his body to shut down.
Born on August 16, 1941, in Logan Utah to Daniel and Connie Lawrence, Dan was the eldest of four siblings: Richard Lawrence, Wayne Lawrence and Sue Peterson. Dan graduated from Tooele High School in 1959. At the age of 19 Dan went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to what was then called the Western States Mission, which included Montana. While in Montana Dan met the Moran family whose oldest daughter would later become his bride.
After his mission Dan attended college in Logan, Utah and married Shirley Louise Moran on June 11, 1964. In the nine years that followed Dan and Shirley had four sons: Roger Lawrence, Kenneth Lawrence, Michael Lawrence and David Lawrence. Roger was born in Logan, Utah while dan pursued his degree, ultimately earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Utah State University in 1967. After graduation Dan and Shirley moved to Sylmar California where dan worked for the State of California. It was in California that their sons Kenneth and Michael were born.
In 1971, the State of Arizona established its Dam Safety Program, prompting the family’s move to Tempe, Arizona. Their youngest son David was born there, and all four boys were raised in Tempe. Dan worked for the Arizona Department of Water Resources Dam Safety division for Nearly 30 years and retired as the director of that division. Dan did not like to sit still, so this first retirement was short lived. He began working for Teta Tech on their dam related projects. After a few years he retired from Tetra Tech and it lasted a little longer than his first retirement but it wasn’t too long before he started Lawrence Engineering and continued working in the dam safety field. While Dan was doing consulting work as Lawrence Engineering the Maricopa County Flood Control District offered him a job which he accepted. He eventually retired for the last time in 2009. Dan Loved what he did and felt that he was doing a service to society as well as providing for his family by doing it.
Dan was a devoted husband, a great father, a not so talkative but loving brother, a “Dam Engineer” and a disciple of Christ. He will be deeply missed by his wife Shirley Lawrence; his children and their families: Roger and Melinda Lawrence their children (Joseph, Caitlin, Jacob), Kenneth Lawrence, Mike and Lisa Lawrence their sons (James, Aidan, Dallin), Dave and Rene Lawrence their son (Devin); and his siblings and their spouses: Richard and Leslie Lawrence, Wayne and Charlene Lawrence, Sue and Charles Peterson. And he will be missed by many more who care for and love Dan.