Tilton "Steve" Lawrence

Tilton Steve Lawrence, 81, of Otway, died at his home on Friday, May 2, 2025—though he almost died a couple times before that. He survived one broken back, two heart attacks, and numerous near misses in a variety of vehicles at high speeds, including motorbikes. As Steve put it, he’d been in, “many a scrape”.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Lawrence Family Cemetery in Otway, located on Gillikin Road. Elder Gene Lupton will officiate the service.

If death is not living, then his closest call came from post–middle-age grief. In 1994, his wife, Sherry Angelee, “the only woman he ever wanted,” died suddenly at the too young age of 46. With a chew of tobacco, he sank into his comfort zone: the recliner in front of the TV. But too much comfort—some might call it numbing—became a black hole. One day his oldest son, Stevie, said, “Daddy, you gonna sit in that chair till you die?” “I reckon so.” “Would you ride a bike if you had one?” “Probably.” “Let’s go get you a bike.” Steve bought a Lowrider Harley, and for over ten blessed years, he once more felt the wind in his face. He was alive again. “When you’re down and out and depressed,” he said, “you can get on that bike and ride around the road, and it’ll put a big smile on your face.”

Steve, the oldest of three siblings, was born July 25, 1943, during WWII, to Tilt and Iona Lawrence in Otway, North Carolina. Tilt was in the war, and Iona blamed Tilt’s war pictures—which included Tilt smiling big on motorbikes—for Steve’s love of them.

Steve’s granddad, “Papa,” was one of the humblest and hardest workers known...often speaking of how he still used a mule down Otway Farm Road while he was younger. It was Papa who taught Steve how things work, how things break, how most things can be fixed— how some can’t. It was also Papa’s belief in God that initiated Steve’s own faith, one in which he believed the Potter shapes the clay. Around the same time Steve got back on a Harley, his sense of purpose deepened. He started preaching “that Old Timey Gospel” at the Otway Primitive Baptist Church.

While a young man, Steve proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard, but his true gift was fixing things, and he made a living at it—first as a dredge boat engineer, later as a shrimper. But it wasn’t just work. People came from miles around with problems that couldn’t be solved anywhere else: a dead diesel, a rifle off-true, a clock not keeping time. If a part didn’t exist, he’d take a torch and a welding gun and make it himself.

He never wanted payment, he never cared much for money. Sometimes folks would bring him a sack of shrimp or sweet potatoes. “That’s a-plenty,” he’d say.

Those acts of service were how he showed his love. He lived a stoic, one-lane life— not much room for emotion—but when Sherry died, he sadly cried for months. He’s survived by his younger siblings, Robert (Vicky), and Doreen (Tony), and by all five of his sons: Stevie (Holly), Matthew, Richard (Tracy), David (Charlotte), and Ryan. They all knew his love, maybe not always in words, but in every car...especially the Mustangs...that he got running again, every toy he fixed, every broken thing he made whole.

He loved to tell stories and talk of the past. Always laughing at them, regardless of the number of times he retold them...and he laughed like nobody else—full-body, belly-shaking—the most infectious in the history of the world. Surely Heaven is getting an earful, and laughing along with him.

Steve is also survived by his grandchildren—Jocelyn (Cameron), Brady, Carleigh, Preston, Jackson, Leo, Jonathan, David, Gillian, and Matthew; great-grandchildren, Finn and Sophie Gray. Sophie Gray arrived a few days right before Steve left. He is survived by his brothers-in-law, Gene and Hugh; aunts, Elberta and Violet Rae along with many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Also surviving is Izzy, his beloved wild-haired terrier mix.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Carteret County Humane Society would be greatly appreciated as throughout his life, he always had a faithful furry companion by his side.

A special thank you to the staff of CenterWell Nursing and Therapy, Dr. James Crosswell, and Michelle Nolin for their wonderful care over the years.

"And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee." - Isaiah 51:11

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.net

Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC.