LAWRENCE, Billy P.

Camp Verde Bugle, Cottonwood, Arizona Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Billy P. Lawrence 1928 - 2016 Billy Paul Lawrence, age 88, died of natural causes on April 4, 2016, in Amado, Arizona. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mikell Lawrence; his three children Lynn Kimble, Beep Lawrence, and Kelly Lawrence; three grandchildren Trevor Lawrence, Paul Brashears, Cy Walker, and one great grandchild Blaze Robert Brashears. Billy was born January 17, 1928 in Boulder, Colorado, to parents Paul and Evelyn Lawrence. He learned to ride rough horses at an early age and soon put his skill to good use riding bucking horses professionally. Billy rodeoed all over the United States. At the age of 15 years, he began his first professional competition at the original Madison Square Garden in New York City. He was an original member of the Turtle Association, which later became the Rodeo Cowboys Association; now known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In addition to his rodeo career, he was partners with Oral and Mae Zumwalt in the KO Rodeo Company of Missoula, Montana and was the co-owner of the famed bucking horse, Trails End. Billy was a long standing member of the AQHA and loved breeding and raising good Quarter Horses. He would break the colts at the ranch, send them to the racetrack for their futurity and derby years, earning their Register of Merit, then he brought them home and trained them to be arena horses. Billy served his Country in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and was honorably discharged, at which time, he returned to his first love, Rodeo. His family and friends will always remember him as a kind, honorable man of strength and integrity. Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 AM on April 16, 2016 at the Clear Creek Cemetery, Camp Verde, Arizona, with Cowboy Wake to follow. Information provided by survivors.