Bradley (“Brad”) Reed Lawrence of Payson, AZ, 74, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Brad was born in Redwood Falls, MN, on August 14, 1951, to Carl and Audrey (Meiners) Lawrence. He grew up in Minneota, MN, with an older sister and an older brother. He graduated from Minneota High School with the Class of 1969.
Following in his dad’s and brother’s footsteps, Brad joined the U.S. Navy in 1969 and served our country for four-and-a-half years as an Interior Communications Technician Second Class aboard the Sam Houston, a nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine.
After his discharge from the Navy, Brad attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Scientific and Industrial Photography. Later in his career, he earned his MBA from Colorado State University.
Brad thrived as a sales and business development manager for several companies, primarily marketing semiconductors. His career took him all over the world and allowed him to be part of an industry supporting high-performance technology used in aerospace, defense, and space exploration.
Over the years, Brad called both Southern and Northern California, as well as Arizona, home. He connected easily with others and maintained longtime friendships wherever he lived. He loved visiting family and friends and attended most of his family and high school reunions in Minnesota over the years. He had a witty, quiet sense of humor and was often the center of attention as a storyteller, sharing tales of his many adventures and endeavors. He also absolutely adored cats, especially rescued ones.
Brad’s hobbies included hiking, photography, playing golf, genealogy—he loved keeping the family’s history alive—volunteering with veteran-related organizations, and traveling the world, both domestically and internationally. Over the years, he enjoyed sports cars and motorcycles, but aviation became his passion. Brad received his pilot’s license in 1979 and thoroughly enjoyed everything about the aviation lifestyle, including his home in an aviation community next to his hangar.
Brad and Carol first met in the 1970s, when Brad was in pilot school with Carol’s first husband, David. Both being from Minnesota, Brad and David became fast friends and stayed in touch until Dave’s passing in 2017. Brad and Carol reconnected through shared grief, fell in love, and married in 2021. Though their years together as husband and wife were too few, the love they shared was rooted in a friendship that had endured for decades. Brad and Carol settled in Payson, AZ soon after marriage where Brad became a prominent figure in the tight knit community. Passionate about volunteering, Brad dedicated much of his retirement to working with multiple veterans’ originations, including Hospice Companionship for Veterans and the Marine Corps League. Second to his work in the veteran community, Brad also served as an officer in numerous aircraft associations, including the EAA Chapter 810, in which he took pride in showing young people the world of aviation. The Young Eagles program allowed Brad to share his passion for flying while connecting with local families. Brad had an altruistic spirit and was deeply motivated to make a difference in the lives of others. His passing has left a void in the community, as he is greatly missed.
Brad was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol Lawrence; his parents; his sister, Sherie Stroklund; and his brother, Larry Lawrence.
Brad is survived by his two stepdaughters, Lindsay (Nick) Kellams and Ashley Wood; sister-in-law, Donna Lawrence; brothers-in-law, Les Stroklund and David Thompson; three nieces, Lisa (Jeff) Bernard, Amy (Mike) Budd, and Amber (Ryan Devine) Lawrence; one nephew, Trevor (Ami) Lawrence; three step-grandchildren; other extended family; and good friends. He is also lovingly remembered by Deb Buckner, who became a cherished part of his life.
There will be two gatherings for family and friends to celebrate Brad’s life:
Mountain Bible Church
302 E. Rancho Rd.
Payson, AZ 85541
Friday, September 11, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
A special aircraft flyover to honor Brad will occur prior to the service. Please arrive early.
Hope Lutheran Church
113 S. Jefferson St.
Minneota, MN 56264
Friday, October 16, 2026 – 3:00 p.m. (with visitation starting at 2:30 p.m.)
If you wish to make a donation in Brad’s memory, consider supporting an aviation-related,
veterans’, or cat rescue organization—causes that were meaningful to him.
