Evelyne Lawson
Evelyne Lawson
Evelyne Lawson, 90, of Grinnell died February 11, 2011, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Evelyne Lawson Memorial Fund.
Evelyne Pauline Tinkler Lawson was born May 14, 1920, on a farm north of Gypsum, Kansas to Irl Newton Tinkler and Maudie Marion Mounkes. She received her early education in Gypsum, graduating from high school in 1938. She continued her education at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, Wesleyan University, Salina, Kansas and the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado. She received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa in 1972.
She was married to Charles Edward Lawson on August 29, 1945, in Salina. Two sons were born to this union, Gary Steven Lawson and Mark Charles Lawson. The family moved to Grinnell in 1961. Evelyne and Charles were divorced in 1964. Evelyne’s employment career began with teaching country school in Saline County, Kansas, The Air Force Base, Salina, taught elementary school in Belleville, Kansas, Grinnell College computer services, Grinnell Regional Medical Center emergency room technician, St. Francis Manor nursing assistant, Grinnell Welcome Wagon hostess, and later a product demonstrator at several local stores.
She was active in various community and church activities throughout her life beginning at age 10 with 4-H activities and was the recipient of several county and state wards. While working at the Air Force Base in Salina, she served as a USO hostess. Her life-long devotion to music began with playing the clarinet in her high school band. In Grinnell she was a member of the Grinnell College Community Chorus, Symphonic Band and Folk Dancers, and the Grinnell Community Theater. She played the lead role in the Grinnell Community Theater production of “Quilters.” She was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher and active with the Chancel and Radiant Ringers Bell choirs. She was an avid gardener and was well known for her flower gardens.
Survivors include her son, Mark Lawson of Rockford, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Melliny Lawson Lamberson of Brooksville, Florida; two granddaughters, Devon Oppenheimer of Venice, Florida and Monica Wlatkowitsch of Nokomis, Florida; four great-grandchildren, Joshua and Stephanie Watson, Nicholas Wlatkowitsch, and Griffin Oppenheimer; and a sister-in-law, Anna Mae of Humboldt, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Gary Steven Lawson; and a brother, Marcell Bernard Tinkler.
Source: Smith Funeral Home
