He began the collective critique of every improvisation or scene with the most gentle yet effective two questions I had heard any teacher say: "What was good about that?" then "How could it have been better?" His class, taught with Mrs. Winkworth, let me blossom.

On Sunday before Gary passed I had the wonderful opportunity of seeing Gary multiples at Church. First at the Adult Ed hour, then Church and finally at our annual Harvest dinner. Walking into Church I asked if he needed help and he hesitated and said yes. As I pushed him on his mobile chair into Church he reminisced about our times at Church over the years. Upon reflection I realized that in the 60 or so years Gary went to our Church he had gone to Church thousands of times. Gary had many talents but one of his best talents was getting people involved in Church life.  There is a saying in our Church about being “Garied” — where with a clip board typically in hand he would get people involved in all sorts of activities in our Church. One of those memories about being Garied was when I was on a 16 mile Episcopal Charity walk in San Francisco and while walking up a San Francisco hill I (mistakenly) asked him what he and another gentlemen were discussing. Gary was on the board of Episcopal Charities then and by the time the walk was over - with Gary’s eyes gleaming - I was invited to apply for the board. I did so and I served on that Board  for over 10 years. 

Church of the Resurrection

Church of the Resurrection

Precious moments

I had the pleasure of meeting Gary and Joan as a young boy when my family attended Church of the Resurrection in the mid-1960's.  Although I only attended C of R for seven years, Gary always struck me as a person who truly lived his faith through his words, actions and deeds.  Over the next 50 years, I had brief interactions with him again and found him to be the good person I remembered as a child.  Our lives are shaped by so many experiences but enriched by truly memorable people and relationships.

Godspeed Gary.

So lucky is my family to have wandered into Church of the Resurrection and find the Lawrence family. Everyone of them willing to welcome us into their lives.  Gary was definitely the leader of the band.  Full of ideas for projects.  He invited my husband to make wine with him and Allen was happy to join in the challenge.  Many years of driving to Galt to pick grapes and then nursing them into wine.   I didn’t know yet that when he approached with a clipboard during coffee hour I should run so with his help I did the costuming for a few of the plays.  Something I never would have done except Gary told me I could do it and everything thing would be fine.

There is so much more to all of these years of friendship.  I described him as my Renaissance Man friend when telling those who didn’t know him about the wine, chickens, bees, plays, pinochle, French Club, kindness and everything else that he was.  He will live on in the hearts of so many.   

I attended Church of the Resurrection for many years.  Gary got me involved with the plays at church as well as the Chancel Players - who would periodically act out the readings.  He also got me into raising chickens for a bit.

He would also have the Men's Group over to drink wine in his wine cellar.

Gary seemed to love life and wrapped his arms around life with energy and love.

God's Speed My Friend -

Gary was such an integral part of my life, first at Church of the Resurrection and also as an extension of his family.  I knew him for 30+ years within the church community.  It's the laugh I hear in my head.  When I was younger and stupid, Gary & Joan helped me through a couple rough patches, and I always talked with them.  I called Joan "Mom", and she always said "Hey kid!" when she saw me.  Many of us were roped into parts in the annual stage production that Gary directed as a fundraiser for local charities that was held at the church each year.  You'd see him circling with a clipboard after Sunday service and start ducking behind doors and into rooms to get away!  But he always found you with love and said, "I have the perfect small part for you!".   And you couldn't say no.  And although he put enormous energy into those productions, he always did so with laughter and fun.  Before we moved to New Mexico in 2021, he would come find me working in the orchard at church and ask how I was doing and we'd chat about whatever.  He always listened.  Such a kind and loving soul.   My best to Amy and Tom, and of course, to Joan.

Some of us knew Gary from our San Francisco French group. He kept bees, and he kept us going when our dear friend Violaine was unable to facilitate.  Informed and passionate about the state of the world and our well being, Gary led the group every Tuesday.    He enjoyed his time in the city going from our meetings to long walks followed by evenings at the San Francisco Ballet or opera.

     What a man!  What a life!  Gary embraced it all, enjoying trips to Paris with family and New York where he found so much pleasure in Broadway theatre.    A country gentleman and urban sophisticate who cherished time with family, friends, and his beloved church community  best defines the man we knew.

    The memory of this zest for life remains with all of us who knew and loved him.  Thank you Gary, you are truly missed and remembered.

Marlene Nanus, Santa Cruz

Dancing at their great-niece’s wedding

My condolences to Joan and to all of the Lawrence family. I have had the great blessing of knowing Gary for over 20 years through the Church of the Resurrection. Gary has always set so many examples for me that I came to look to him as a role model: through his love and welcome to my family and to others, his sense of humor, and his love and joy of life he expressed in so many ways through his many activities and pursuits, too many to go into here. Gary has always been an active supporter of the Church and I saw how he also made many others feel welcome and accepted there. For all these reasons and more, I am very grateful to have known Gary. 

I remember Gary. My Dad and Mom held FFF  groups at our home and others. That smile is alive, and Gary we wish you the best in heaven. Blessings, Margaret Wisehart ( Shackell Family)

I’m so sorry and am sure he was the light of everyone in the family. I’m Rev Shackell’s daughter…I remember Gary. Love hugs and prayers are coming to you.

Gary was an institution at church.  He had a fabulous sense of humor and was a natural leader.  He delighted us for years as St. Nick.   He also believed you were never too old to learn something new.   Most recently, he was part of my Sacred Ground group, where he impressed on all of us the need to forgive oneself for making mistakes. 

Family reunion in June

I am not a beekeeper, chicken owner, nor do I speak French but I am Gary's sister from Oregon and can attest that all the wonderful characteristics he demonstrated with his clubs, he also demonstrated with his family.  He was a truly admirable man and I was lucky enough to have three other brothers - all wonderful.  I miss them all so much but know how fortunate I was to have had them.

At our first meeting of MDBA, it was clear to me and Nancy that Gary was the heart and soul of MDBA. We were so lucky to spend time in Gary’s apiary early on. We got Gary’s deep love and devotion to MDBA, but more importantly, his deep love and devotion to bees were wonderful to experience. Gary was inspirational on so many levels. He will continue to hold a vibrant space in our hearts. - Judy Weatherly, past President and VP Member Education Nancy Burke, Past VP Member of Education

Several years ago, Gary called about a swarm that was in a tree in his backyard. Gary thought the swarm came from one of his hives, and he wanted to gather them and put them in an empty hive in his yard. Over the phone, I asked him the normal questions swarm collectors ask. However, with Gary, I skipped question one and went to question two: where is the swarm? He said they were in a tree, pretty high up, but he had a big ladder and thought we might be able to get them. I was wary of “pretty high up” and left for his house with my 24’ extension ladder as a backup. Gary met me out front and while we walked to the back he said the swarm was really big. That sounded promising, and I was hoping the hive would be maybe 15’ to 20’ high. But when we got in the backyard Gary proudly pointed high up towards a tree and said “there they are”. The swarm was huge, as big as a basketball, but it had to be 40-50 feet high and on a limb some distance from the trunk. We discussed various options of how we could try and get them, but we finally decided one or both of us would break our necks, the swarm was too high. I could tell Gary was disappointed about not getting the girls for his empty hive, but also where would this swarm go in the wilds of Pleasant Hill?  Gary’s passing is a loss to each of us personally, and a loss to the club. The ‘bee-chat’ part of our monthly meetings will never be the same without him. I will miss Gary’s sage wisdom, his ever-present good nature, and his welcoming personality. Gary was truly one-of-a-kind, and a friend to all of us and to the honeybees in our hives. - Jeff Bairey 

The first hands-on club meeting for Carmelita and me was at Gary & Joanie Lawrence’s home in 2011 where we learned how to harvest frames of honey from a super and then extract it using only a bucket, a wire strainer, and a hive tool for crushing the comb. It was so basic and so simple to do without any complicated equipment, we were both sold on the idea of going forward with beekeeping, thanks to Gary and his teaching methods. Two years later in 2013 when we were visiting Gary at his apiary, we were invited into his office for detailed explanations of doing the show and tell for local schools. While there, I spied Gary’s notes in a book of Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” which Gary was directing. I told Gary that it was my favorite play and he explained that he had lost one of his actors to a necessary out-of-town business trip. I immediately volunteered and he explained that cast members were limited to members of his Church of the Resurrection. After pointing out that I was of the same religion as his church, just not a member of the congregation, and after doing some pleading, Gary permitted me to join the cast as Simon Stimson, the town drunk and choir director. I went to the rehearsals of what was my first and last stage acting endeavor. Under Gary’s guidance and Carmelita’s patience through many at-home practice sessions, I was able to pull it off so that I at least didn’t embarrass the rest of the cast. I still have my copy of the book Gary marked up to show my speaking parts. Because of Gary’s tolerance in working with me as a first-time actor, and for his lifelong interest in teaching, I shall always fondly remember Gary  Lawrence. - Ralph Carter and Carmelita Palma

Learning of Gary’s passing brings tears to my eyes. He was ALWAYS kind to me and gave me his FULL attention whenever we were together. I recall him driving—me in the passenger seat—on our way to give a bee education presentation (might have been 6 Flags in Vallejo). I asked him about the challenges of caring for my dying father. He listened and gave me words of wisdom about a man from a man’s perspective that bolstered me through navigating my father’s death in 2004. I am so grateful for that. We were members when there were only around 30 people (on a good night) meeting at Heather Farm Center. Then, even when the meetings turned into hundreds of people, he would find me, to give me his undivided attention, often something about our mead-making winemaking in common. He was a beautiful person, spelled out in his dear “business card” listing so many things. He gave his home since those early days for learning and bee package pickup. He was a big part of the glue that held our club together all the way to today. - Debbe Holeman