Donita Lawrence

Donita Raylene Crain Lawrence, resident of Ponca City, died Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the Blackwell Integris Regional Hospital. She was 63.

Donita Raylene Crain Lawrence was born September 1, 1947 in Oklahoma City, the daughter of Donald Crain and Bess Shaw Crain. The family moved to Ponca City soon after where Donita attended the Ponca City Schools.

Donita attended Beauty College in high school and following school married John M. Brownfield and to this union was born one daughter, Misttina. Donita enjoyed various occupations throughout her lifetime. She worked for the Blue Moon Restaurant and Cobbs Caf on 1st Street as a teenager. She also worked at Whites News Agency. Following her divorce she married Jerry Lawrence and moved to Oklahoma City where she worked for Farmers Insurance and Horizon Insurance. Upon retiring from insurance, she started a successful bookstore Bell Book and Candle. She enjoyed her business venture immensely, hosting many book signings for Oklahoma authors at her store. The F5 tornado, May 3, 1999 destroyed Donita and Jerrys home. They retired to Ponca City to be near family. Donita was a member of the Faith Tabernacle Church in Ponca City. She loved her friends and family dearly. She never met a stranger and was a dear friend to all who knew her.

Donita is survived by a daughter, Misttina Misty Brownfield of Ponca City sisters, Sharon White and Veda Grose, and husband, Steve, all of Ponca City, one brother, Steve Crain and wife, Sue, of Owasso her mother, Bess McClelland of Ponca City nieces and nephews, Shannon and Mike Robinson of Tonkawa, Stephanie and John Boleiu, Three Rivers, Texas, Shelly and Butch Fields of Shidler, Oklahoma, Donald and Sandra Grose of Springfield, Tennessee and Robert Grose of Lawton, Oklahoma, Kim and Anthony Seratte of Skiatook, Oklahoma, Shawn and Melissa Crain of Florida, as well as great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Crain and her husband, Jerry Lawrence.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, November 11, 2010 at the Faith Tabernacle Church with Pastor Don Stanton presiding. The family will be at the home of Sharon White, 828 North 5th Street, Ponca City.