Jo Lawson's Obituary
Mattie Jo Lawson was born on August 9, 1931 in Hamilton, TX. She left this earth and entered the presence of her Lord & Savior at the age of ninety-one years on August 20, 2022. Jo has now seen the face and pierced hands of Jesus!
Jo accepted Christ as her Savior as a teenager and remained faithful to the body of Christ. She was a member of Park Heights Church of Christ in Hamilton, Lake Highlands Church of Christ in Dallas (charter member), Laguna Park Church of Christ in Laguna Park, Crestview Church of Christ in Waco, Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland and Christian Care Church of Christ in Mesquite.
Jo taught 6th and 7th grade math at Victor H. Hexter Elementary and Martha Turner Riley Elementary in Dallas for 30 years. She loved teaching and challenging her students to reach their full potential. She retired in May 1982 but stayed in touch with former students and received many notes of gratitude and fond memories. That same year, Jo was also awarded the Top Ten Award as a Baylor Hospital volunteer.
Upon retiring, Jo spent many days on her barge “Daddy’s Baby” at Cedar Creek Lake with her nieces, nephews and their friends tagging along for fun. Then Jo permanently moved to Lake Whitney and immediately became very involved in the local community. She welcomed the ladies Bible class at Laguna Park Church of Christ into her home as she led their Bible study. Jo also enjoyed the challenge of getting her realtors license and selling real estate in the area for four years. The local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a benevolent teacher’s organization, benefitted from Jo serving as their Vice President from 1988 to 1990.
Jo moved to Waco in 1993 and once again became very involved. She volunteered at Waco Christian School’s kindergarten and day care program for which she received the Philanthropist & Friend Meritorious
Service award. Jo faithfully served the Lord as a member at Crestview Church of Christ for seventeen years. She was actively involved in their ladies’ ministry, Care Net Baby Baskets program, Wednesday night meals and instrumental in starting FriendSpeak (learning the English language while reading the Bible).
Jo moved to the Hartin cottages at Christian Care Senior Living Community in April 2010. True to her nature, she volunteered with their hospice program and received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2012. She delighted in starting and teaching a ladies Bible class at Hartin from 2012 to 2016. After back surgery in 2017, Jo moved to Bentley Assisted Living at Christian Care where she resided for the remainder of her days.
Jo lived a blessed life full of adventure! She was proud of being on the Hamilton High School Bulldogs basketball team. As an avid sports fan, she enjoyed attending basketball, baseball and football games or watching them on TV. Jo loved to travel and some of her destinations included Israel, Europe, Canada and all across America. She often invited family and friends to join her on her motor home for a fun filled trip. Jo also bought a Cessna single engine airplane, took flying lessons and treated family and friends to aerial adventures over Texas.
Jo is preceded in death by her father William Lawson, her mother Martha Johanna Lawson, her brother William Charles Lawson, her sister Mavis Fink, her brother-in-law Leo Fink, her sister-in-law Merle Lawson, her niece Linda Fink, her nephew Alan Fink, her nephew by marriage Bob Gautier and her dear friend who was like a sister Nan Howard.
Jo (Aunt Jo) is survived by her nieces Johnnye Gautier, Jean Bloodworth (Jerry), Janet Ray (Farrell); her nephews Billy Lawson (Sharolyn), Ken Fink (Kathy); seven great nieces and 2 great nephews.
Jo’s family extends their heartfelt appreciation to Bentley Assisted Living and Christian Care Hospice Services for their loving care as Jo completed her life on this earth.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Christian Care Church of Christ (1000 Wiggins Parkway, Mesquite, TX 75150) or GEM Outreach, a ministry to help children in West Dallas grow spiritually, physically, socially, economically and mentally (2326 Chinkapin Way, Dallas, TX 75212).
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