Lawrence was born in Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland to parents Henry and Elizabeth Smith. His family moved to Ontario when he was a young boy. Lawrence returned to Newfoundland as a teenager where he met and married his wife of 42 years, Winnifred Noseworthy. The family moved back to Ontario in  1986. They had 3 sons: Eric, Steven, and Darren. Lawrence is pre-deceased by sons Eric and Darren. Son Steven lives in Tottenham, Ontario with his 2 sons, Connor and Cameron. Lawrence passed peacefully away at his home in Tottenham, Ontario on March 24/06.