Laurence A. Drew

Laurence A. Drew, 81, of La Grande died January 5, 2006 at a local care center. A casual celebration of life and a potluck will begin at 4 pm Friday, January 27, 2006 at the La Grande Country Club. A private memorial will be held on Duck Lake, Montana in the summer.

Mr. Drew was born April 30, 1924, to Ralph and Louise Deeney Drew in Roberts, Montana. He graduated from Kalispell High School in 1942 and served in the Navy during World War II. On June 24, 1977 he married Virginia Rivers Flanery in Boise. He worked for the Kalispell Police Department for 20 years and retired as an assistant chief. He was a past president of the Montana Police Protection Association and received awards for sharpshooting. He later owned and operated an RV dealership for Fleetwood (Terry Trailers), Big Sky Campers and Kit Manufacturing for 13 years in Kalispell. He then moved to La Grande and managed the RV division for MJ Goss for five years.

He was a member of the Elks, the American Legion, Eagles, VFW, Ducks Unlimited, the RV Dealers Association and the La Grande Country Club where he was a past board member. He was an Eagle Scout and sportsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and smoking and canning game.

Survivors include his wife of La Grande; children, Stephen Drew of Homer, Alaska and Kathleen Drew of Palmer, Alaska; a stepson, John Flanery of clackamas; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. A son, Terry Naumann, a sister, Helen Cash and a brother, James "Bud" Drew, all died earlier.