Lawrence Macklin, a longtime resident of Seaside, California, passed away on September 20, 2026, at the age of 91.

Lawrence proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, a chapter of his life that reflected the strength, discipline, and sense of responsibility he carried with him throughout his life.

Lawrence was a hardworking man who spent many years working at Monterey Waste Management Company, doing the kind of honest, demanding work that reflected the way he approached life. He was straightforward, old-school, and never one to sugarcoat things. If Lawrence had something to say, you knew exactly where he stood. But those who truly knew him also knew the generous man behind that direct exterior. Lawrence lived a life of service and was always willing to help someone in need.

His influence reached far beyond his immediate family. There are people today who are who they are, in part, because Lawrence took the time to guide them, encourage them, help them along the way, or simply be there when they needed him.

His home on Elm Street saw decades of conversations, laughter, advice, disagreements, stories, and family gatherings. And you couldn't talk about Lawrence without talking about Cookie and OT. The three of them were always together, sharing the kind of friendship and brotherhood that became part of so many memories from those years in Seaside.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ella Mae Macklin, who passed away in December 2005; his brothers, OT and Bill; and, most recently, his daughter, Janice.

He leaves behind his sons, Kenny, Larry, Billy, and Rickey; his daughter, Deborah; and his sister, Alberta. He is also survived by his grandchildren, including Kenny and his wife Cyndy's children, Shaun and Kenisha, and Rickey's children, Alyssa and Rickey Jr.

But Lawrence's legacy cannot be measured simply by a list of names.

It lives in the people he helped, the lessons he taught, and the lives he helped guide and shape. It lives in the stories he shared, the example he set, and all those moments that may have seemed ordinary at the time but now mean everything.

Perhaps his greatest legacy can be found in the many people who are able to say, “Lawrence helped shape who I am.”