Lawrence Dunham Manser

Lawrence Dunham Manser 74 of Ridgedale, MO passed away January 13, 2021 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.  He was surrounded by his wife and two daughters.

Lawrence was born April 3, 1946 in Butler, MO to Gilbert & Madaline Manser and his sister Karen.  He graduated Brookfield High School in Brookfield, MO in 1964.  He enrolled at the University of Missouri – Columbia and graduated in 1968 with an agriculture economics degree.  After graduating, he worked for MFA Incorporated in Mendon, MO and La Plata, MO. On June 8, 1968 he married Peggy Bohanan.  From this marriage two daughters were born, Amy in 1971 and Brook in 1979.  In 1982, the family then moved to Branson, MO and purchased a resort the same year.  In 1985, Lawrence received a life-saving kidney transplant.  After a new lease on life, he started a boat dock building company on Table Rock Lake.  The family sold the resort in 1986.  In 2007, Lawrence sold the boat dock business and retired.

He loved fishing, hunting and boating on Table Rock Lake.  Lawrence and Peggy enjoyed traveling in their RV.  They often spent winters in Florida and Texas.

Lawrence was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Branson, MO.  He was also a member of the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple in Springfield, MO and the Taney County Shrine Club.  He was a very active member of these organizations.

Lawrence is survived by his wife of 52 years and daughters Amy Hemphill of Branson, MO and Brook Sorenson of Shawnee, KS (Greg Sorenson); and three grandsons, Zachary Hemphill, Hunter Hemphill and Reed Sorenson.

Organ and tissue donation was very important to Lawrence.  He was able to donate his eye tissue with the Missouri Eye Bank.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Taney County Shrine Club Hospital Travel Fund for Children, P. O. Box 1434, Hollister, MO 65673.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the family will hold private graveside services in Ozarks Memorial Park Cemetery, Branson. A Celebration of Life service will be held later in the Spring.

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