Lawrence Arthur Latimer age 75 of Vernon, Texas passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Vernon, Texas.

Lawrence was born September 13, 1946 in Vernon, Texas. He was the son of the late Deward Arthur Latimer and Joyce Jouett Latimer. He married Mary Boone on September 6, 1970 in Seymour, Texas. He served three years 1966-1969 in US Army 101st Airborne and received two purple hearts for his wounds in Vietnam.

Aviation was Lawrence's passion he loved flying and especially teaching others to fly, he received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2015 for 50 years of safe flying. He was a crop duster for many years and then flew corporate but flight instructing was always his special talent. He trained dozens of pilots to be AG Pilots and hundred more in other areas of aviation. In 2011 he and Mary began the Gift Academy; Girls in Flight Training. This program has had a positive impact on hundreds of women from all over the country.

In 1998, Lawrence and Mary took in an exchanged student from Brazil. Simone Coelia learned to fly and became family. Her sister Sandra and brother Renato also came to the Latimer's for flight training and are now airline pilots in Brazil. Simone went into medicine and is a Pediatric Oncology Surgeon.

Lawrence's influence and mentorship leaves a remarkable legacy.

Lawrence is survived by his wife Mary Latimer of the home, his daughter Tamara Latimer Griffith and one brother Mark Latimer, and three grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers Larry Deward Latimer and Roy Don Latimer.