Laurence Ronald 'Wayne' Ayers, 98

Laurence Ronald ‘Wayne’ Ayers passed away quietly in his sleep at his home at the Royal Plaza Retirement Center in Lewiston, Idaho, on June 16, 2024. He was the eighth out of 10 children born to Lester Charles and Lucy Alice Ayers. He is preceded in death by his parents, the two loves of his life, Rosalie (Egland) Ayers and Roberta (Ruddell)(Bonnalie) Ayers, his siblings Cora, James, Lester, Richard, Virgil, Gordon, JoAnn, Jeannine and his daughter-in-law Denise Ayers. He is survived by his brother, Lonnie, his children, Richard, Julie (Paul) Hamilton, and Traci (Dan) Gutschmidt, his nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Wayne was born and raised in the orchards of Lewiston, Idaho. After high school, he joined the Marines and served during the Korean War. In less than 3 years, he earned the rank of sergeant. He was very proud to have served his country. After he was discharged, he met the first love of his life, Rosalie. After they were married, they lived in Lewiston, where Wayne was attending college. After graduation from Lewis-Clark Normal School, they moved to Pocatello, where he finished his bachelor's degree in education at Idaho State University. He was a well-respected teacher and loved by his students and colleagues. He taught junior high in central and eastern Oregon, St. Maries, Idaho and lastly, Kalskag, Alaska. While in St. Maries, he went to the University of Idaho and obtained his Master of Education degree.  

During his retirement years he kept in touch with many of the people he met throughout his life. He also traveled to almost all of the 50 United States with both of his wives. He didn’t see the need to go overseas when there was so much to see in our wonderful country.   

There will be a Memorial Service at Hayden Bible Church in Hayden, Idaho, on Aug. 3, 2024, at 1 p.m.