Obituary of Lawrence S. Samuelson

Lawrence (Lawrie) Stanley Samuelson, age 77, of Osage Beach, Missouri, died Tuesday, November 20, 2012, in Osage Beach. Lawrie Samuelson was born June 20, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Stanley and Clara Samuelson. He was married to W. Janette York on June 27, 1954, in Millbrook, Illinois. The couple moved from northern Illinois to the Lake of the Ozarks in April 1961. Upon moving to the lake, Lawrie owned and operated Play-a-Day Beach Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri. He later worked for Osage Catfisheries. Lawrie and his family then owned and operated Drasky Bait, Tackle and Marine. Lawrie served as an Osage Beach City Alderman and was instrumental in helping the city lay the ground work for the police department, fire protection district and ambulance service. He served as a volunteer for these various city departments, as well as serving on numerous other fact-finding city committees to help the future growth, development and success of the City of Osage Beach. Lawrie and his family opened the Country Kitchen Restaurant in 1984, on the same ground where the Drasky Bait and Tackle business once stood. Lawrie Samuelson was the recipient of the Ollie Osage Award given by the City of Osage Beach in 1977, for his outstanding community contributions. He was a member of the Harper Chapel United Methodist Church and numerous other civic organizations throughout the Osage Beach and lake area in the years prior to his retirement. Lawrie was preceeded in death by his parents, Stanley and Clara Samuelson; one brother, Gene Samuelson; and his oldest son, Lawrence Gene Samuelson. He is survived by his loving wife of the home for 58 years, Janette Samuelson of Osage Beach; his sister, Shirley Formeller of Northbrook, Illinois. Lawrie is also survived by his three sons: Greg Samuelson and wife, Susan, of Mattoon, Illinois, Randy Samuelson and wife, Gloria, of San Antonia, Texas, and Bruce Samuelson and wife, Kay, of Lake Ozark, Missouri. He is also survived by his beloved 18 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family members and good friends.