Mendocino Pentecost Queen and her attendants, c. 1904. L-R (front): Maggie Jerome, Annie Pereira, Mamie Bettencourt – Pentecost Queen, Amelia Perry, Unidentified, Mamie Gonzales, Adelaide Costa, Florence Lawrence, Constantine Silveira with sash, Herman Fayal with straw hat, Joe Quaill – front left. 2nd row: Mamie Jerome, Marian Thomas, Dino Figaro, Mayme Mendosa, Johanna Thomas, Annie Jerome.
May 14, 1922 – Florence King passed away at the Calpella Street home of her mother-in-law following a long illness. Born in Mendocino in 1896, Florence was the daughter of Joseph Ignacio Lawrence, who immigrated from Flores, Azores Islands in 1878, and Mary Ferro Lawrence, who was born in Petaluma. The Lawrence family lived on Ukiah Street, and Florence was educated in the Mendocino public schools.
In 1917, Florence married Joseph King, Jr., son of Joseph and Joaquina Thomas King. Florence and Joseph lived in Caspar following their marriage, but returned to Mendocino a few months before Florence’s death, so that Joaquina could care for her.
The Beacon reported, “Her illness had extended over a period of some two years. The last few months she had declined rapidly. Tuberculosis was the cause of death. Mrs. King was a woman of kindly disposition and pleasant address and she had a large number of friends here and also at Caspar, who will be saddened by her death. She was but 25 years of age.”
Survivors included her husband, Joseph; brothers, Joseph, Frank and Albert Lawrence; and sister, Katherine. Funeral services were held at the Catholic Church in Mendocino, with Father Brennan officiating. Interment was in the Catholic cemetery.
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