Benny Oliver Lawrence

Benny Oliver Lawrence, 83, of Amarillo, Texas passed peacefully on April 13, 2025 with his children at his side.

Services will be held at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel (2800 Paramount Blvd) with David Smith officiating on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Military Honors will be provided by Volleys for Veterans, with burial to follow at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

Benny was born in Amarillo on January 3, 1942, to Alta (Davis) and William Byron Lawrence. He was the youngest of three with older brothers David and John. Benny attended Bivins Elementary School, Austin Middle School, and Tascosa High School, where he was a “Top Ten.” He played tennis at Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, then a Masters of Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. He served as the Amarillo Country Club Tennis Director and taught math and coached tennis at Rider High School in Wichita Falls and Lubbock High School. He was the Chief Planner for the City of Amarillo (Division of Planning and Traffic Engineering), Director of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, and he made a lot of good people a lot of good money as a Financial Advisor with Kidder Peabody and Morgan Stanley from 1978 to 2008.

Benny was a Seabee, earning the rank of Lieutenant in the United States Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 71. He served in combat in Vietnam, and played tennis in Australia and Puerto Rico while on leave.

Benny was a stellar athlete, playing basketball in high school and dabbling in golf, but his true passion was tennis, winning back-to-back 4.0 Senior National Championships in USA League Tennis. He loved to travel and eat well! He maintained many close friendships from elementary school through college, during his military service and professional career, and with his dear neighbors and tennis buddies. Everyone knew him for his kindness, wisdom, and wit, and he was a solid rock for his family and friends.

Benny is survived by son Edward Justin Lawrence and his wife Kimberly Jayne Brubaker of Whitefish, Montana; daughter Anne Yows Lawrence of Columbia Falls, Montana; granddaughters Mason Leah Brubaker and Margarett Ellen Lawrence of Kalispell, Montana; sister-in-law Joan Lawrence; niece Suzanne Cain, nephews Ted Lawrence and Bill Lawrence; sister-in-law Nancy Lawrence, nephew Eric Lawrence, niece Jennifer Butler; and cherished partner of 20+ years, Melanie McGuire.

Benny was preceded in death by his beloved parents, brothers, nephew Jamie Lawrence, Ellen Yows Lawrence, the mother of his children, and his grand-dog Gus.

Memorial donations may be made to W. Byron Lawrence Scholarship: WTAMU Foundation, WTAMU Box 60766, Canyon, Texas 79016, or to the Alex O’Brien Tennis Foundation: 800 S. Monroe, Amarillo, Texas 79101.