Lawrence "Skip" Ernest Place Sr.

Lawrence Ernest Place Sr. (Skip), 87, of Amarillo passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 2, 2019. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at Memory Gardens Cemetery Pastor Shawn Freeby officiating and Military Honors to follow. Jordan Langehennig who played the bag pipes during Mr. Place's honor flight in 2016 will honor him at the grave site as well. Mr. Place was born in Dover, New Hampshire and later served in the Korean War, where he received an honorable discharge from the US Armed Forces on June 19, 1953. Later he worked in the shoe factory of Rochester, New Hampshire, were he met his wife Lillian Place who he wed in 1953. Skip then got a job with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Middleton, Connecticut. The family broke down on their way to Arizona in the town of Amarillo in 1962. The wonderful people of Amarillo took the family in and provided homes and jobs for the family where Skip and Lillian raised their family. Skip was a heavy equipment operator for the city of Amarillo, then a truck driver for Curry Motor Freight of Amarillo, and then the Railroad, BNSF, where he retired in 1996. After retirement he worked as a Dumas Crossing Guard where he received a 10 year pin. Skip was a member of South West Baptist Church where he was baptized on December 19, 1965. He also led his children to the Lord. Survivors include his two sons, Lawrence Place Jr and wife Cathy of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, and Pete Place and wife Bobbie of Amarillo; along with two daughters, Paula Place Foster and husband Buster Foster of Amarillo, and Linda Place Johnson and husband Dewayne of Las Vegas, Nevada. To carry on his legacy are grandchildren Paul E. Garcia and wife Aimee, Crystal Garcia, Travis Foster of Dallas, Texas, Mike Mendoza and wife Heather of Panhandle, Texas, Todd Place of Pflugerville, Texas, Ashley Place, Jenny Funderburk of Amarillo, and Jason Funderburk and wife Deann of Slaton, Texas; great grandchildren Lukas Mabry of Arkansas, Skye, Sophia, Eleanor Garcia of Amarillo, Donvan, Logan, and Kyliegh Mendoza of Panhandle, Texas. Lawrence Place Sr. has two sisters, Mary Lian and husband Jim of New Hampshire, and Irene of Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Irene and Ralph Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Skip was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Place in 1995 and later second wife, Claudine in 2005, who he wed in 1998. The family will receive friends and loved ones for visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, November 4, 2019 at the funeral home. The family will be at 7307 Park Ridge Dr. Amarillo, Texas. The family request memorials be sent to the Veteran Administration Hospice living community of Amarillo, Texas. Special thanks from all the family for the incredible care that was given to Skip Place during his two month stay at the CLC Hospice Facility.

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