Obituary of Jerome David Laurence

Jerome David “Dave” Laurence passed peacefully on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at the Barnegat Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Barnegat, NJ, at the age of 85. Born December 22, 1935, in Westwood, NJ, Dave graduated Westwood High School and married Nila Petersen in 1956. He remained a North Jersey resident for the first half of his life, working as an electric company lineman and starting his family. In his 30’s, they moved to Harvey Cedars where Dave commuted to Asbury where he ran a Texaco station. Finding his groove as a business owner, Dave opened up a car wash followed by Dave’s Texaco station, which was a fixture on Long Beach Boulevard in the 1970’s through the late 1980’s. In 1979, Dave, always eager to help those who needed it, fell for Gloria D. Haines after fixing her car battery. They were married the following year, lived in Surf City, and moved to Brant Beach in 1982 where they lived until Dave retired. In “semi” retirement, Dave and Gloria moved to Atlantic Hills in Manahawkin where he kept himself busy with driving for the Shoreline bus company, building intricate models of boats and ships, fixing up and improving whatever needed it, and enjoying life with his favorite gal and his growing family. Son of the late Jerome Adrian Francis Laurence and Lyla Mullin, Dave was also predeceased by his step father Jerome Mullin, brother-in-law Bob Geiger, son-in-law Wayne Fisler, and nephew Wayne Geiger. He is survived by his loving wife Gloria, his dear sister Barbara Geiger, children and step children Jeff Laurence (Cheryl), Diane Farmer (Keith), Rich Laurence (Mari), Gary Laurence (Allison), Lisa Hill (Joey), Diane Fisler, and Robert Haines (Gerda). He is also survived by his loving nieces Janet Reilly and Susan Kenny as well as 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Services will be private for the immediate family in north Jersey in early February. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dave’s name can be made to the Friends of the Ocean County Animal Shelter, 360 Haywood Road, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.