Shirley "Joann" Lawson

Shirley "Joann" Lawson, 70, Sheldon, Mo., passed away on Feb. 12, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., following a short illness. She was born on April 15, 1938, in Schell City, Mo., to Oscar Warren Greer and Ethel Pearl Stultz Greer. She married John C. Lawson on May 26, 1956, in Nevada. He preceded her in death on May 29, 2005.

Joann grew up in Eve and graduated from Nevada High School in 1956. She and her husband lived in Kansas City, Mo., for a number of years before returning to Vernon County. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Katherine Ann Attebury and her husband Ron, rural Sheldon, Mo., and Laura Lee Eads and her husband Robert, Kansas City, Mo.; two sons, John M. Lawson and his wife Cathy, Kansas City, Mo., and Calvin Nickolas Lawson, rural Sheldon, Mo.; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Joseph W. Greer, Willard, Utah, John H. Greer, Honeyville, Utah, and Wayne Greer, McCallister, Okla.; three sisters, Betty Greer Lance, Harrisville, Utah, Elaine Greer Millard, Wasilla, Alaska, and Judith K. Greer Agee and her husband Stafford, Nevada, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at St. Mary's Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan., with the Rev. Justin Hoye officiating. Friends may call now and until 1 p.m., on Wednesday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the Vernon County Cancer Relief Fund in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.