The memorial service for Lawrence &uot;Lornie&uot; Stotts, of Albert Lea, will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. John Henriksen will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Friends may visit with family from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour before the service at the church.

Lawrence (Lornie) Stotts passed away Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, at St. John’s Lutheran Home.

Lornie was born Jan. 13, 1915 in Albert Lea, the son of Floyd and Nellie (Foster) Stotts. He lived his entire life in Albert Lea except for a few years he and his parents lived in Kanawha, Iowa. He was baptized in the Methodist Church.

He received his education in Albert Lea, graduating with the class of 1933. In 1941, he married Elinor Johnson of Riceland Township. They lived in Albert Lea until June 1942 when he went to serve his country. He was a member of the 81st Wildcat Division and saw duty in many of the islands in the Pacific. He returned home in December 1945. The family moved to Hayward where Lornie worked as a custodian for District #241 at the Hayward School. Lornie enjoyed all sports, played on high school teams and after graduation he played on city league teams. He was one of the first to be elected to the Freeborn Country Softball Hall of Fame. He was honored to be asked to throw out the first basketball in Albert Lea’s new high school gym in December of 2000 – being the oldest high school alumni. While at the Hayward School he coached the students in the many school sports programs. Through the many years these students have been his special friends and still refer to him as &uot;their coach.&uot;

Lornie and Elinor have two sons. While living in Hayward, the family were members of Hayward Lutheran Church, where he served as usher, council member, and president of the congregation. In 1983, Lornie and Elinor moved to Albert Lea and became members of Grace Lutheran. During his retirement he enjoyed bowling and pool playing at the Senior Citizen Center. His special times were following his grandchildren, great-grandchildren in the many sports they took part in.

Lornie is survived by Elinor, his wife of 63 years; two sons: Rex and his wife Lois of Albert Lea, and Stuart Stotts of Rushford, Minn.; grandchildren: Lynde and David Nelsen and children, Chris and Jenny of Rochester, Mark and Andrea Stotts and daughter, Nicole of Albert Lea, Preston Stotts and children, Shane, Lucas and Sydney of Alaska, Deniese and Dean Johnson and children, Tiffany and Danny, of Houston, Minn., and Ryan and Karen Stotts and

daughters, Lilli and Allison of La Crescent, Minn.; brother-in-law and his wife: Norman and Irene Johnson of Clarks Grove; and sister-in-law, Lillian Johnson of Boston, Mass.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert, and a great-grandson, Aaron Matthew Stotts, who both passed away in infancy; his parents: Floyd and Nellie Stotts; his mother-in-law and father-in-law: Norman and Clara Johnson; brothers- and sisters-in-law: John G. and Nora Johnson, Carlyle and Grace Johnson and Richard Johnson.

Lornie was a kind, quiet, and gentle person and will be greatly missed.