Patricia Ann Lawrence was born July 15, 1961, to Paul and Iola Busing at Fairbury Nebraska.  She died May 19, 2001, at Fairbury, at the age of 39 years, 10 months, and 4 days.  The ninth of 11 children, she grew up in Fairbury and attended St. Michael's Catholic School and Fairbury high School, graduating in 1979.

    She attended Marymount College in Salina, Kan., majoring in art education.  While at Marymount, she earned hornors as Outstanding Art Student in 1980-1981, and an art award at the annual Student Art Exhibition in 1980-1981.  Following graduation in 1983, she taught K-12 art at Claflin Public Schools in Claflin Kan.

    On June 7. 1986, she married Mark J. Lawrence in Fairbury.  She continued teaching before and after the birth of her three children.  She instructed seventh and eight grade art for Fairbury Public Schools from 1986 until 1991.  She also served the school district as an elementary art consultant from 1989-1992.  She taught art at St. Joseph's Catholic School in Beatrice (1994-1999) and St. Michael's in Fairbury (1991-1999).  Her teaching career also included art instructions for Peru State College and Adult Learning classes for Southeast Community College in Beatrice.

    In addition to teaching, she also operated a private art business, Diverse Dabbling, creating store signs, windows, and other special projects for customers.  She repainted several religious statues for the church and private individuals and liked drawing, designing, and painting gifts.  A special project she completed in the summer of 2000 was a rosary garden in her back yard.

  A lifelong Catholic, she recieved First Communion on April 3, 1969 and was confirmed on April 4, 1971.  She served as president of St. Michael's Council of Catholic Women in 1993.  Her church activity included duties as bazaar co-chair 1990-1992, funeral dinner chairperson in 1994, and as a custodian for St. Michael's School and Church.  She had the opportunity to give back to the church whether it was folding bulletins, cleaning, or painting.

    Preceding her in death were a child, Francis; and grandparents, George and Elizabeth Busing and Charles and Sara Dibben.

    At the time of her death, surivors include her husband; sons, Sebastian and Paul; daughter, Mary; all of her home; stepdaughters Sarah and Rachel Lawrence of Lincoln; stepgranddaughter  Broghan Lawrence of Lincoln; parents; brothers, Earl, Bruce, Mark and Joe Busing of Fairbury, Bill Busing of Marysville, Kan., Fred Busing of Mountain View, Idaho and Wayne Busing of Fort Wayne, Ind.; sisters Linda Siebe and Donna Shultz of Fairbury and Nancy Lashley of Stapelton; 13 nieces, 14 nephews; and six great-nephews.

    The vigil was held May 23, 2001 at St. Michael's. Services were May 24, 2001 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Fairbury, with the Revs. William Grant, Mark Seiker and Joseph Walsh officiating.  Pall Bearers were Andrew Busing, Hunter Schultz, Justin Busing and Edward Lashley.  Honorary pallbearers were her nieces.  Burial was in the Alexandria Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria.