Obituary of Vernon James Lawson

Vernon “Vern” James Lawson Sr. passed away on the morning of October 9, 2023 at Pikes Peak Hospice after complications from a long term medical condition. 

Vern was born on July 4, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri to his parents Earl S. and Opal (Day) Lawson. 

He graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City. When looking back at his life, Vern would refer to his youth as, “the good old days.” As a teen, he and his two brothers worked in the locker rooms at Municipal Stadium, during the days of the famous pitcher, Don Larsen, and got to meet other greats like Yogi Berra.  As a young man he also worked for the local drug store and drove deliveries on his bicycle. 

Vern was a lithographer by trade, working for such companies as Commercial Lithographing in Kansas City, MO, printing Hallmark Cards; KC Lithography in KC, Estes Industries in Penrose, CO; Munson Printing in MN; and LT Litho in Colorado Springs, CO.

Vern was a big outdoorsmen, he loved fishing, hunting, camping, and traveling. He would visit Colorado with his family for vacations and hunting. He loved the fall in Colorado and would travel all throughout the state to see the foliage. He decided he loved Colorado so much that in 1984 he moved to Canon City, CO.  He was an avid supporter in his local high school sports teams, every Friday night he would go out to eat and then attend the football games of the Tigers and the Huskies, regardless of weather.

He loved Halloween and being able to hand out candy and see all the neighborhood kids in their costumes. During Christmas time he would drive to the mountains to have a picnic and cut down a fresh tree for the living room. He made sure to get the tree strung up with lights and garland and decorate it immediately upon getting it up. He would set up his incredibly detailed Christmas village afterward. He loved to drive around at Christmas time and see all the decorated houses and their lights. 

He was active in sports, playing 1st base for a his softball team. He always wore the number one and was also referred to as #1. He was an amazing craftsman, he did woodworking, wood burning, crafting centerpieces, wreath decorating, and taught himself to paint “Bob Ross style.” He was an animal lover and had several dogs over the course of his life. He loved and had all kinds of dogs, big and short, and he loved walking them to the park daily. He even bought a motorhome just so that he and his wife could travel with their dogs. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Opal Lawson; brother, Robert Lawson; and sister, Irene Fennewald.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Judy Lawson; children, Vern J. Jr. (Tammy) Lawson, Renee (Robert) Austring, Cindi (James) Donahue; step-son, Aaron (Heather) Helmick; thirteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Earlene Droege; brother, Charles Lawson; and many nieces and nephews.

Vern had a huge smile, was a gentle man with a big heart, loved his family who made his life whole and brought him so much joy. He will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers the family would like for memorial contributions to made in Vern’s name to the following organizations:
Alzheimers Association, https://www.alz.org/?form=alz_donate
Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, https://www.hsppr.org/donate/
Pikes Peak Hospice, https://pikespeakhospice.org/donate-today/
Wounded Warrior Project, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/
St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/

If flowers are ordered, the family asks to refrain from carnations due to severe allergies.

Memorial Service, 11:00AM, Friday, November 24, 2023, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909.

Reception to follow at The Golden Corral. The family kindly asks that each person cover their own bill.