Margaret Lawrence

Margaret Lawrence died peacefully on September 17, 2022. She was born on a farm near Rich Hill, Missouri to her loving parents, Joseph & Minnie Bell.

Margaret attended Rich Hill R-IV and moved to Kansas City to work after graduation. She worked for several years for Old American Insurance Company where she became the first woman computer programmer. She later joined Commerce Bank as a programmer, then manager. She met her husband, Jim, at Commerce and eventually retired from there as a Vice President in the Information Technology department. She loved genealogy, quilting, and traveling with her husband. Margaret will be remembered for many things, but most of all, her tenacity & love of animals.

Margaret is survived by her husband James Lawrence; daughter, Jennifer (Bryce), and 2 stepdaughters, Catherine (Tim), and Cynthia; 5 grandchildren; and one sister, Carolyn. She is preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (Rosary 7:30) on September 21 in McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64145. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in Church of the Nativity, 3800 W 119th St. Leawood, Kansas 66209. Catholic Right of Committal will be at Green Lawn Cemetery in Rich Hill, Missouri on September 22, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill, Missouri.

The family wishes memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity that was close to Margaret’s heart