Elma Cecilia Lawrence

Elma Cecilia (Hauter) Lawrence, 96, of Columbia City, Ind. passed away at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at Miller's Merry Manor. Born February 26, 1922 in Rosedale, OH, she was the daughter of James and Margaret (Arend) Hauter.

She received her education at the Hicksville Public School graduating in 1940. She married Max J. Lawrence June 10, 1944 in Fort Wayne, Indiana at St. Paul's Catholic Church. She was employed at General Electric Co. during World War II. During the mid-1960's, she was employed at Alcoils in Columbia City. She was a member of the St. Paul of the Cross Rosary Sodality. During the 1960's, she was secretary of the Whitley County Democratic party.

Survivors include her children, Patricia (Tom) Hutton, of Republic, Mo., Phyllis Schmidt, of Fort Wayne, James (Joan) Lawrence, of Fort Wayne, Vicki (Jack) Lemler, of Columbia City, Judy Folse of Michigan, Joseph (Julie) Lawrence, of Fort Wayne, Richard (Laura) Lawrence, of Fayetteville, Ark,; sister, Vera Pruitt, of Long Beach, Calif.; sister, Eleanor Singer, of Defiance, OH; brother-in-law, Dean Lawrence, of Arlington, Va.; sisters-in-law, Ruth Hauter, of Long Beach, Calif. and Jan Lawrence, of Centralia, Wash.; and numerous grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Carol Brown; son, John Lawrence; brothers, Henry, Lewis and Anthony Hauter; sister, Genevieve Ruhlman.

Visitation is 2-3:30 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a Rosary at 3:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 315 S Line St, Columbia City with visitation beginning at 8 a.m. Father Gary Sigler will be officiating. Burial to follow at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in her memory to St Paul of the Cross food kitchen. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.