Lawrence Amelon Lawrence Herbert Edward Amelon, 87, of Centralia, died at 9:26 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008, at Audrain Medical Center in Mexico. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Centralia with Pastor Mike Gallagher officiating. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Park in Mexico. Pickering Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Mr. Amelon was born on Dec. 26, 1920, in Princeton, Minn., a son of John Carl and Lydia Emma Ida Ritz Amelon. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the US Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the war he farmed for the rest of his life. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Centralia. Survivors include one brother, Dr. Maynard Amelon, Palm Desert, Calif. and several nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Donald and Rowland, and one sister, Ruth, preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.

Public Tributes and Expressions of Sympathy Uncle Lawrence was always my favorite uncle. He possessed the best sense of humor and even had a good line on his death bed. He said, "I'm going to get myself a different doctor--Kervorkian." Uncle Lawrence stayed alert and quick-witted to the end and that is as it should be because he gave so much joy to so many people. Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of visiting he and Grandma Amelon at the farm in Centralia. He delighted in seeing all his nieces and nephews, making each and every one of us feel very special. He made sure he came to every family reunion. He took very good care of Grandma Amelon her entire life and sacrificed himself to take care of her. Everyone he met was a friend, giving him thousands of friends throughout his life. He was the nicest man you could ever meet and there were a couple people in his life who took advantage of his unselfishness and good naturedness in helping others. It is a relief to know that these people can no longer take advantage of him. May he rest in peace. We love you, Uncle Lawrence. Love, Debbie, Rob, Addison, and Walker My uncle and I had a running joke that he was a Monkey's Uncle - which kept me in the humorous place of being a monkey! Humor was a joyous part of any time you got the priveledge of spending with Lawrence Amelon. He was always looking to brighten your day - with a joke or caring for what you may need. As a child, he would share his love of the land by showing us the corn fields he cared so beautifully for. As kids, we just loved to drive the tractor while on his lap or the truck. He had a kind spirit for animals as well, as he had a faithful companion in "Blondie" - a gentile blond haired dog we enjoyed as well. Uncle Lawrence asked for nothing, and gave so much. I admired how much he would do for the elderly, even if he was elderly too! His "aw, shucks" attitude was always evident, even as I had the honor of telling him just a few weeks ago that my fondest childhood memories were of him and my visits to the farm. My dad, Maynard, would talk to Lawrence almost everyday, EARLY in the morning, and when I was awake, I would get to listen to this special brotherly love. It is a special connection that will last through eternity. After Rowland passed away, it was just Maynard & Lawrence Amelon - close to the very last day. I know Lawrence will be missed most by my dad who delighted in Lawrence's wonderful sense of humor - right up to his last day with us. Lawrence was smart, kind to a fault, funny, gentile and just the best Uncle any niece could ever have. I will miss you, you Monkey's Uncle! I forgot to add one of my proudest moments - thanks to my Uncle Lawrence. He was kind enough to make the trip to Kansas City to watch me compete in National Figure Skating Championships. The judges did not give me the marks he felt I deserved. Later, at the hotel, we got on the elevator with one of the judges, where Lawrence asked if she needed "a white cane". She replied, "No, why?" "Because you must be blind!" While shocked, we were also so proud of our Uncle who would speak his mind like that! Thank you Uncle Lawrence for rooting for me xoxo I have had the pleasure of knowing Lawrence for the last year and a half, while working at Miller Resident Care. He was a wonderful man and full of knowledge along with humor and sometimes a little mischief. No matter how Lawrence might have felt, he always had a kind word and smile for me, for everyone. He enjoyed jokes and riddles. He knew his time was getting short, but he also knew that his Lord was waiting to take him in his loving arms. My sympathy to his family and loved ones. He will be greatly missed. Rita Wilkerson

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