Lawrence G. Handley
Lawrence G. Handley
Lawrence G. Handley
1914-2016
Lawrence George Handley, 101, of Ford City and King City Missouri, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Kansas City Missouri. Lawrence was born at his parent’s farm near Ford City, Missouri. He was the eleventh of twelve children by William A. Handley and Mary Ann Magee.
Lawrence’s grandparents, John William and Margaret (Burns) Handley, hailed from Limerick County, Ireland. After immigrating to the USA, they homesteaded in Pennsylvania 1857 and moved to Ford City, Missouri in a Conestoga covered wagon around 1865. They were among the early Irish families in the St. Patrick’s Parish. Lawrence was the first baby boy baptized in the current Ford City, St. Patrick’s Church. He served as an altar boy and was a lifelong member of the church.
Lawrence attended Maple Grove Rural School and King City High School. Lawrence raised cattle and farmed on and near the original homestead. He was a caring husband and wonderful father of five children, encouraging them to value and continue their education. Lawrence was a generous person with a wonderful sense of humor. After his wife, Mary, died in 2007, he moved to Kansas City to be closer to family. Lawrence will be laid to rest near his wife, parents, grandparents, and several brothers and sisters in St Patrick’s Cemetery of Ford City, Missouri.
Proceeding Lawrence in death were his wife, Mary (Cunningham) Handley, his parents, William and Mary Ann Handley, brothers; Thomas, James, and Frank, sisters; Agnes Conrad, Margaret Lawler, Elma Diss/McCann, Lucy Lajoie, Honora Steinhauser, Roberta Handley and Beatrice Steinhauser.
Surviving family include his sister, Elizabeth Wiederholt of Maryville Missouri, five children, 12 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. His children include: Dr. Dennis and Kathy Handley of Boonville, Missouri, Dr. Patrick Handley and Dr. Melanie Dean of Kansas City Missouri, Geralyn Ann and Gary Slaybaugh of Knoxville, Tennessee, Mary Lou and Alan Livingston of Captain Cook, Hawaii, John and Mischelle Handley of Lenexa, Kansas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 17 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Stanberry, Missouri under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, King City, Missouri. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Ford City, Missouri followed by meal and public gathering at Eiberger Building, King City, Missouri. Rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday followed by visitation from 7:00 p.m. at Roberson Funeral Home, King City, Missouri.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Ford City, Missouri in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 153, King City, MO 64463 or John Handley, 7912 Apache Rd., Lenexa, KS 66227. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com
