Kerry Elizabeth Lawrence

Kerry Elizabeth Lawrence passed peacefully from this world and into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, early on Sunday morning, February 17, 2019.  Kerry is survived by her husband Jack Lawrence, son John Peter Lawrence and his wife Susan (Dreyfus) Lawrence, daughter Megan Patrice Lawrence, brother Sam McMahon and his wife Janice, and brother Pat Eckman and wife Carolyn, plus plenty of nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

She was born Kerry Elizabeth Eckman in Denver, Colorado, on January 24, 1951, to COL Gordon Peter Eckman and Mary Ruth (Kelly) Eckman.  As a “military brat”, she spent her childhood years constantly on the move – Colorado, France, Germany, Wyoming, and Arkansas.  But when asked, she claimed the town of Pyatt, Arkansas (population 230) as her home, and was proud to be a Razorback.   After graduating from Harrison High School, she worked in Dallas, Texas, then in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she met and married Jack, an Army lieutenant.  Now an “Army Wife”, Kerry spent the next eighteen years moving with Jack through a number of military locations in Alabama, Korea, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Maryland, and California, before establishing their home in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1989.  Along the way, she birthed two children, Pete and Megan.

Kerry was a strong and devoted Christian, never content to be a pew-sitter, but called by Christ to servanthood and action.  She devoted herself to helping to establish three successive new churches in the area – Good Shepherd UMC, Master’s Way UMC, and Harvest Pointe Methodist Church.  In the local area she has been a long-standing active volunteer with Choose Life, Kairos Prison Ministry, Walk To Emmaus Community, Meals On Wheels, Salvation Army, and the United Methodist Committee On Relief.  She served in many leadership positions in the Kairos and Emmaus programs, as well as her local churches.  Her many short-term mission trip locations include Honduras, Guatemala, Romania, Russia, Belize, Costa Rica, and Cree Indian Reserves in Canada.

Next to Jesus, Kerry’s heart belonged to her horses and dogs.  And after Jesus, it is likely that many of those were the first ones to welcome her at the Pearly Gates!

Kerry will be remembered by her family, friends, and the Christian community for the genuine love, unshakable faith, and unspeakable joy that she demonstrated in all of her endeavors.

Arrangements have been made for a visitation from 6 PM until 8 PM on Friday, March 1^st, at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home in Madison, Alabama.  The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, March 2^nd, also at Legacy Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Kerry’s name to the Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center (220 Rands Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801) or to Kairos of Alabama (P.O. Box 2039, Madison, Al 35758).  

As a witness to the joy of Kerry’s homecoming, all are welcome to attend wearing bright colors and to be prepared to sing with joy!