John Clark "Pete" Lawson

John Clark "Pete" Lawson, 67, Sheldon, died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at his home in Sheldon, following a lengthy illness.

He was born on Nov. 26, 1937, in Joplin, to Howard Calvin Lawson and Margaret Josephine Bollinger Lawson. He married Shirley Joann Greer on May 26, 1956, in Nevada, and she survives of the home.

He grew up in the Fort Scott, Kan., and Deerfield areas. He graduated from Nevada High School in 1956. For 18 years, he lived in Kansas City. He worked in the engineering department of AT&T for 30 years, retiring in 1990. Then he moved back to the Sheldon area where he has lived ever since. For five of those years he worked at Vinyard's. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

In addition to his wife, Joann, he is survived by two sons, John Michael Lawson, Kansas City, Mo., and Nick Lawson, Sheldon; two daughters, Katherine Attebury, Sheldon, and Laura Lee Eads, Grandview, Mo.; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles H. Lawson, Milo; one aunt; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Herb Lawson.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Anthony Pileggi officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends 1-2 p.m. on Thursday prior to the memorial service. Those who wish may contribute to the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S, Washington, Nevada, MO 64772.