Obituaries
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, December 21, 2009
Lawrence M. 'Larry' Shaw, casual leader
SALISBURY, N.C. — Lawrence M. “Larry” Shaw, a veteran furniture executive who spent much of his career in the casual furniture industry, has died here at age 81.
Shaw joined casual furniture producer Woodard as an industrial engineer in 1956. Three years later, he moved to Salisbury to manage Woodard's Carolina Forge unit.
In 1969, Shaw and William Lyon founded Lyon-Shaw, a producer of upper-end wrought iron furniture. The pair sold the company to Woodard in 1987, and Shaw rejoined that company as vice president of product development.
Three years later, he joined accessories resource Garden Source as sales manager, and later became president of Atlanta-based Currey & Co., an outgrowth of the Garden Source business.
Shaw retired in 2000 after a four-year stint as chief operating officer of Charleston Forge, a producer of occasional, dining room and accent furniture.
During his career, Shaw served on numerous furniture industry boards and committees, including a stint as president of the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Assn. in 1982-83. He also was president of the sales and marketing division of the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn., now called the American Home Furnishings Alliance, in 1986-87.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Hurley Park, 126 W. Innes Street, Salisbury, N.C. 28144, or the charity of your choice.
Thomas Pierce 'Pete' Yardley, Baker Furniture
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Thomas Pierce “Pete” Yardley, former president of high-end case goods manufacturer Baker Furniture and a longtime leader within the Grand Rapids furniture industry, died here on Dec. 13. He was 84.
Yardley was a naval officer in World War II and the Korean War.
He spent most of his furniture industry career at Baker, which he joined in 1956. He was later named manager of its New York showroom, and eventually was promoted to manager of the New York area before becoming the company's president in 1970. He remained president until about 1975 and retired from the company as executive vice president of manufacturing in the mid-1990s.
He also served as president of the National Assn. of Furniture Manufacturers and was president of the Grand Rapids Area Furniture Manufacturers Assn.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marjorie, and a daughter, two sons and five grandchildren.
James A. O'Connell, industry sales rep
ELMHURST, Ill. — James A. O'Connell, a sales representative for a number of industry companies for more than 50 years, has died. He was 84.
Before his retirement about eight years ago, O'Connell worked with his brother, Tom, and their father, Edmund, in representing companies including Johnson-Carper, Wells Tables and Jamison Sleepers.
Jim's nephew Dan O'Connell is a third-generation sales representative and is past president of the Midwest Furniture Club.
James O'Connell also is survived by six children, 10 grandchildren and a sister.
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Veteran furniture executive Lawrence Shaw dies at 81
Dec 15, 2009
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