Laurence E. Gower went to be with his Lord Jesus on February 25, 2008, Richland, Washington after a fall and an extended illness. He was born in Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois, July 25, 1920, to the late Joseph R. Gower and Ruth M. Gadbois Gower. His family moved from Illinois to Colorado when he was ten.

Laurence graduated from Boulder High School in Colorado in 1938. After high school, he was in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Estes Park and then attended trade schools in Portland and San Diego. During WW II, he worked building aircraft, first at Consolidated in San Diego, and then at Boeing in Seattle. February 9th, 1944, Laurence married Bernadine M. Boyles whom he met while they both worked for Boeing. In 1946, Larry, Bernadine and their first child left Seattle and settled in Springdale, Washington. Three children were born while living in Stevens County, Washington. In late 1955, Larry and family came to live in Richland, Washington when he went to work at Hanford. Two more children were born in Richland. He worked for several Hanford contractors; his last employment was with Rockwell as a radiation monitor. Larry retired in 1984 and kept busy with visiting his children, grand-children, doing home improvement projects, and dancing. Larry and Bernadine danced through life with the Prairie Shufflers Square and Round Dance Club up until 2005. Larry was a member of Central United Protestant Church.

Laurence Eugene Gower is survived by: Bernadine, his wife of sixty-four years; six children: John E. Gower, Gary B. Gloria Gower, Nancy L. Gary Hulse, Wendy R. Gower Farmer, Frederick A. Victoria Gower, Gene L. Gower; and grandchildren: Morgan and Julia Gower, Rudy and Linea Hulse; Dawn David Todd, Charlotte Nathan Johnson, and Christine Gower; Matthew Carey, Kelsey, and Alexis Gower; Dan, Damon, and Darek Farmer; and nephews: Charles Cheryl Gower and Robert Gower. His extended family includes the Warner family, Steve Rosier, Brian Smedile, Saman Bravo-Karimi, and many others who have been neighbors and friends throughout his eighty-seven years. Laurence was preceded in death by his son in law Wayne Farmer in 1998, brother Joseph Gower in 2000, great-grand-daughter Victoria Todd in 2003, and former daughter-in-law Melanie Orgill in 2007.

The family is thankful for the care and consideration that has been given to Larry by Dr. Stuart Freeman and his staff; they were helpful in ensuring Larry’s health and comfort during the last two years. We wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Quail Hollow for the faithful and attentive care Larry received during his time there. We also wish to thank Hospice for their care during his final hours.

Memorial service will be held at Central Church in Richland on Monday March, 10th, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.; Pastor David Parker officiating. Light refreshments to follow immediately afterwards.