HOPE — A. Lawrence Pease, 99, died Friday, December 29, 2023, while visiting his daughter in Pennsylvania.

Born in Appleton, March 22. 1924, he was the eldest of ten children of Alton O. and Nellie Meservey Pease. Lawrence attended Appleton schools and was Valedictorian of his 1943 graduating class of Appleton High School where he enjoyed and excelled at baseball.

Soon after graduating, he voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in North Africa and Palermo, Sicily as a Seaman Guard 1 st class and later in communications. While in Palermo, Lawrence was pleased to meet-up with his brother Robert, who was serving there in the U.S. Army.

At the age of 19, Lawrence was invited to travel to Holyoke, Massachusetts, to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He enjoyed the experience but didn’t make the team. As an adult he played for the semi-pro team The Camden Shells until 1954. He was a pitcher, played short stop and left field. An avid Red Sox and Patriots fan, if the Red Sox game was not on TV, you could find him listening to the game with the radio to his ear, while it rested on his shoulder.

December 31, 1948, he married Janet Weymouth. The couple had three children and for most of their married lives, raised their family and enjoyed their home overlooking the blueberry fields in Hope.

From 1948 until it’s closing in 1988, Lawrence worked in the office of Maine Sea Products in Rockland. In 1954, he was admitted as a member of the Masonic Lodge, where he rose through the chairs to become Master and served 3 years as Chaplain of the Lodge. For more than 50 years he was a member of Knox County Fish & Game Assoc., and with his wife was an active member of Hatchet Mountain Snowmobile Club, Happy Campers and Coastal Clippers Square Dance Club.

He was a long-time active member of Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church, in Rockland, where he was a Deacon for 16 years, Treasurer for 20 years and a member of the Building Committee. He particularly enjoyed Danny
Allen’s Bible class.

Lawrence enjoyed a very happy and full life. With his wife, family and friends, he traveled throughout the U.S., as well as Switzerland, Caribbean, Hawaii and Alaska. He enjoyed the many friendships made through camping, fishing, hunting, square dancing, snowmobiling, and bowling.

Other than his parents, Lawrence was pre-deceased by his wife of 70 years, Janet W.; his son Duane L. Pease; his siblings June Pease, Nancy Pease, Dorothy Cloutier, Allan, Robert and Vernon Pease.

He is survived by two daughters, Iris (Walt) Stout of Pennsylvania, Kris Smith of Massachusetts; his siblings Richard (Katie Drinkwater), Jeanne Gibson and Anita Pease; nine grandchildren, Eric (Amy) Fleming, Lara (Arthur) Smith, Selena (Brad) Berlied, Jeffrey Smith, Nick (Aili) Pease, Amelia (Ethan) Adolphsen, Sam (Olivia) Pease, Caleb Pease, Rachel (Shawn) Rich; 19 great-grandchildren, Ethan, Maura and Alex Fleming, Alanna, Cameron and Natalie Smith, Bradford and Derek Berlied, Lainey, Marley, Essie, Zadie and Arden Pease, Audie, Ellis and William Adolphsen, Ava, Silas and Esme Pease; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

An hour of visiting will be held Monday, January 29, 2024, from 12 to 1 p.m., at Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church, One Waldo Avenue, Rockland, where a funeral service with Military Honors will follow at 1 p.m. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Spring interment will be in Rockville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to PenBay Christian School, One Waldo Ave., Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or story with Lawrence’ family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.