John “Nick” Lawrence, 79, Columbia City, passed away at 7:13 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home.

Born Aug. 2, 1940, in Denver, Colo., he was the son of David F. Sr. and Margorie (Campbell Baker) Lawrence.

At the age of nine, Lawrence moved to California with his mother and grandmother. After graduating from San Dieguito Union High School in California, he attended California State University. Lawrence had lived in Australia for a few years doing geology work. He had owned a bookstore, gun shop, was a former golf pro at a golf course and owned an alfalfa farm in Colorado from 1979 to 2003.

On Oct. 21, 1988, he married Bobbieann (Yagel) Zumbrun in Hartwell, Ga., and moved to Bobbieann’s home in Columbia City and continued to farm with her. They would operate the two farms in Columbia City and Colorado for many years together.

Lawrence loved to fish and each winter he would go to New Zealand to fish. He also traveled with Bobbieann as they showed horses and went to the Pinto World Championship events. Lawrence was a lifetime member of the Pinto Horse Association of America and was active with the Indiana Pinto Horse Association.

Survivors include his wife: Bobbieann Lawrence; step-mother: Kay Lawrence, Denver, Colo.; half-brother: David (Lori) Lawrence, Jr., Englewood, Colo.; half-sister: Sally Lawrence, Englewood, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister: Margorie Martin.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Bob Eatherton officiating. He will be laid to rest at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made in Nick’s memory to the Pinto Heritage Foundation Scholarship Fund.