Edward Idus Lawrence

Edward Idus Lawrence, aka Ed, Eddie, dad, and Grampito, age 82, passed away from complications of long COVID, on October 22, 2022. 

Born on January 1, 1940, to Idus Harry Lawrence and Dora Lillian Trujillo.  Ed grew up in the small town of Monte Vista Colorado with his sisters Fidella Graves and Millie Gonzales (married names).  He spent his youth camping, fishing, and tinkering on cars with his father who was a mechanic by trade. 

At the age of 15, he met the girl who lived down the street, Loretta Rosalie Martinez.  He often drove by her house, in his first car affectionately know as “the skunk” because of its unique paint job.  Their friendship blossomed throughout high school and was only put on hold when Ed went to Oklahoma to attend college at Bacone University.  After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he returned to the San Luis Valley where he and Loretta became an exclusive couple, marrying in 1963.  Loretta says they were together 67 years, a lifetime of friendship and love that she cherishes to this day.

Ed and Loretta went on to have three children, Steve, Stephanie, and Stuart.  Steve and Stuart both went on to have successful careers with families of their own, giving Ed and Loretta three grandchildren, Madysen and Alyvia (Stuart and Krista), as well as Shayna (Steve and Sabrina).  Ed was passionate about education, as he was the first person in his family to obtain a college degree, going on to receive his master’s degree by attending grad school at Arizona and Oregon State Universities.  He did his best to instill the importance of a good education in his children and grandchildren, always rewarding hard work and good grades.  Stephanie has lived her life with Ed and Loretta, thriving well beyond expectations, in a loving home environment made possible by their desire to provide the best life possible for her.

Ed taught school in New Mexico for over thirty years.  His first teaching job was in Dulce, where he met some of his life-long friends including Johnny Abeyta, Frank Lotrich, and Larry Bucholz to name a few.  After a couple of years of teaching in Dulce, Ed, Loretta, and Steve moved to Aztec.  This would become Ed and Loretta’s forever home, where Stephanie and Stuart were born.  In Aztec, Ed met more of his life-long friends, too numerous to mention, but all with common interests such as fishing, camping, hunting, art and crafts, and a passion for teaching the youth of the community.  Ed taught 7^th grade life science and always had a session in dissecting various “critters” such as frogs and giant earthworms, which were some of his favorite teaching aids.  After about 30 years of teaching in public schools, Ed finished his teaching career by becoming a federal employee, teaching for three years at Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle, NM, commuting every day for 3 hours, to and from, the school.

While Ed ended his formal teaching career after 33 years, he continued to teach well into his 70s, not only learning and perfecting his woodworking skills of woodburning and hand carving of various subjects such as animals, people, and decorative pieces that were both beautiful and functional, but he also was happy to pass on his learnings to his family, friends, and others who had an interest in learning the craft.  He won numerous awards and accolades through his woodworking career, with many of them coming from direct competition with professional wood workers.  He was skilled in hand carving, power tool carving, and chainsaw carving, along with his woodburning skills.  He was recognized and awarded numerous times in each of these skills.

Ed was truly a unique individual with a passion for lifelong learning, teaching, and family.  A memorial will be held in his honor on November 18^th, at 4 pm, at the Farmington Funeral Home located at 2111 W. Apache St., Farmington NM / 505-325-2211.  All are welcome to joining the family in celebrating Ed’s life with shared stories and remembrances, listening to some of his favorite music, and gathering to provide comfort to each other during this difficult time.  On November 19^th, a graveside memorial will be held at the Aztec Cemetery, 700 Chamisa Road, plot #16, at 11 am to say final goodbyes.  All are welcome to attend this ceremony as well. 

If anyone would like to say a few words or provide some written thoughts that can be read aloud, please contact the Farmington Funeral Home and leave them your name and number.  Steve will contact you prior to the 18^th and work out any details necessary.

May Ed rest in peace, rejoicing in meeting up with his family and friends that proceeded him, swapping tall tales, catching endless fish, and watching over us that remain behind, helping keep us safe until we too join him on the next part of this journey called life.