Lawrence Willie Hayden

September 8, 1927 - February 13, 2018

Lawrence Hayden was born in Chickasha Oklahoma on September 8th 1927. Lawrence’s parents were the late Joseph and Isabel Hayden. Lawrence is survived by his sister Clara McCoy of Chickasha; Wanda Davis and Arvella Hayden of Oakland, CA; brothers Howard and Edgar Hayden of Chickasha; Leo (Wayne) Hayden of Oakland, CA; and Willard (Gene) Hayden of Albuquerque, NM. In the late 1940’s he married Katherine (Jones) Hayden, who at the time had three children in which Lawrence helped raise as his own; Charlie Mae Fisher, Billie Rayes and Willie Lee Proctor. Soon after they were married they had three children together; Thurman Hayden (deceased), Linda Peoples and Deborah Burdex. Lawrence had a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a special daughter in law Janice Hayden. Lawrence also had 16 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. Lawrence received his education and training from the Lincoln School of Chickasha Oklahoma. After school Lawrence’s father felt it was important to prepare him to be a successful entrepreneur. His first job he worked at the Flying School in Chickasha Oklahoma. Following his position at the Flying School, he became the first black owner/ operator of a local gas station. Lawrence also owned Mobil Gas Station on 4th and Iowa, where he employed his sister Juanita Betty as his bookkeeper. His entrepreneurship didn’t stop there, he also owned several clubs where people had a great time. In addition to Lawrence’s work history, he also worked for Chickasha public schools and Chickasha Nursing Home. From a sole proprietorship to being a team player on a staff, Hayden put his heart in all professional jobs he ever had. Lawrence was baptized at First Baptist Church at an early age under the Christian leadership of Reverend CB Newton. Lawrence was an excellent athlete who was a star basketball player at Lincoln School. As an adult, he also coached basketball and baseball where his leadership was demonstrated by always having teams with winning records. Lawrence loved OSU sports and no matter who you were he would let that be known. Later on in life Hayden’s go to line when someone ask him how he was doing he would say “great I don’t feel old at all”. He would also brag all the time about how his baby girl Deborah Burdex always took good care of him. Lawrence lived a life with a lot of great accomplishments, but one thing Lawrence was proud of was his family. Lawrence was blessed with a life long enough to see great, great grandchildren live. Anyone who knew Hayden knew he was a strong willed man, which was demonstrated by his passing. Lawrence Hayden had a heart attack on Thursday February 1st 2018 and eventually passed away on February 13th 2018. His youngest daughter was by his side the entire time upon his passing. Lawrence is preceded in death by; four sisters Juanita Beatty, Janell Daily, Marguerite Johnson, Fran Carter; and Johnnie Hayden.