Raymond Lawson
Raymond Lawson, age 76 of Rockdale, passed away Thursday afternoon, December 10, 2020 at the Rockdale Estates and Rehabilitation. Graveside services are 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 13, 2020 at Hillcrest Cemetery in Marlin with Pastor David Kaufmann officiating. Visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale
Raymond was the youngest of nine, born on December 24, 1943, on his family’s home place on a mountain in Catoosa, Tennessee to Walter Clack and Lola Artelia (Hamby) Lawson. He graduated from Oakdale High School at the age of sixteen in 1961. After graduation and with his mother signing a waiver for him to join, he served in the U.S. Army from May 1961 to May 1964. While on leave from Fort Hood, he ventured out to Marlin looking for a lake, where he met his future wife at the A & W Root Beer stand. On January 2, 1964, he and Dorothy Stevens were married in Marlin, and made their first home in Fort Hood until his discharge. They later moved to Rockdale where he went to work for Alcoa working there for 39 years. He was a Foreman in the Ingot Department and retired in 2003. Raymond loved his family, but he also loved his work family and that is how he felt about the men and women he worked with over the years.
He was a member of First Baptist Church in Rockdale and had served as a Deacon for many years. He was a proud member of the Rockdale Masonic Lodge #414, where he served in all the offices of the local lodge and served as District Deputy Grand Master. Raymond was part of a group that developed the idea and built the Rockdale Girls Softball fields at its present location and served as President of the league. Raymond had a true love for sports and loved the Rockdale Tigers. He was a proud member of the Rockdale Athletic Booster Club during the time where he had no kids old enough for sports and served as Vice President, just for the pure love of athletics.
Raymond could usually be found in two places, working out in his yard and following wherever his grandkids were competing. He spent countless hours with Dorothy out in their yard over the years and enjoyed the time they spent together with what he claimed was her passion, but he secretly enjoyed. His greatest pride was his grandchildren and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them or anywhere he wouldn’t go for them. He spent countless hours in the stands at youth rodeos and barrel races supporting them as they were growing up and drove from coast to coast to watch them. He sat in the baseball and football stands and walked many a golf course. He took great pride in preparing what is grandkids said were the BEST GRILLED CHEESE sandwiches. But most of all he was proud to be father and a grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lola Lawson; sisters, Lula Grant and Geraldine “Bobby” McDaniel; brother, Wiley Jack Lawson and sister-in-law, Gayle Stevens Lawson.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Lawson of Rockdale; daughters, Robin Galbreath and husband Billy Dale of Rockdale and Rhonda Eichinger and husband Charles of Port Lavaca; brothers, Gene Lawson of Rockwood, Tennessee and Robert Lawson of Marlin; Sisters, Nellie Beach of Rockwood, Tennessee, Zelma “Iney” Bingham of Oakdale, Tennessee and Beula Gann of Lilburn, Georgia and three grandchildren, McKenna Galbreath and Curt Landry of Bryan, Kelsey Galbreath of Galveston and Grant Galbreath of College Station.
He also was survived by numerous sisters-in-laws & brothers-in-laws, nieces & nephews.
Also, his Traditions Hospice Family and especially Natalie Noack, for all their love and care over the years and in his last days. Rockdale Estates, Nurses & Staff.
Serving as pallbearers are Gail Blackmon, Calvin Whiteley, Gary Northcott, Rick Henderson, Jim Maines, Janet Havelka.
Honorary pallbearers are members of the Rockdale Masonic Lodge, Russell Martin, Billy Headrick, & Martha Stidom
Memorials can be made to Rockdale Masonic Lodge #414, P.O. Box 225, Rockdale, Texas 76567 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn. Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Florida 33607, shrinershospital.org.