David R. Lawson

David R. Lawson passed away November 19, 2020, after a three-year battle with cancer and, finally, Covid-19.  He was pre-deceased by his wife, Deborah. He was born March 5, 1954, to Russell and Thelma (Watkins) Lawson in Middletown, Ohio. He had two brothers, William and Dennis, and a sister, Jane. He graduated from Clinton-Massie High School in 1972 and took classes toward an associate degree at Miami University’s Middletown Campus after graduation. He married Deborah Myers in 1981. They had a son, James and two grandchildren – Kinsey and Riley. 

David held a variety of occupations throughout his life – all of which were related to his skills as a self-trained master mechanic and welder. He worked for a number of auto repair establishments and, at one time, had his own business in that arena. He was also employed as a mechanic by a Chevrolet dealer in Eaton, Ohio. He did golf course equipment maintenance and grounds maintenance at the Indian Ridge Golf Club and the Oxford Country Club. He worked in several muffler repair and replacement shops. He was a printing press operator in southeast Ohio.   

Cooking and raising his own garden produce were his first love. He believed in using cast iron pots and pans and had a massive collection of the same. He enjoyed cooking for others and catered many meals for friends. He canned produce and made hundreds of jars of fruit jelly each year and then gave it away as Christmas presents. 

He loved hunting and fishing and was planning to go on “one last fishing trip” before his health failed him. 

Throughout his life, David thrived on helping people in various ways – often taking folks in to live with him when the situation called for it. David had a wide circle of friends who loved him dearly and whom he loved back. They remained steadfast when times became tough. They sustained him through his last months and he took great joy in daily telephone conversations from the hospital. The family is sincerely grateful to them all for their love and kindness shown to David.

And the family is also greatly indebted to Alma Jean Smith, David’s live-in companion for the past twelve years. She was with him during the good times and the not-so-good times.She shared his pain and provided comfort when things got bad. She also was an important part of his happiest experiences during these last three years. 

He is greatly missed.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David R. Lawson, please visit our floral store.