LAWSON
Mr. Mervyn Vein Lawson passed away on September 4, 2014 in the Red Deer Regional Hospital at the age of 84 years. He was born at Sibbald Alberta on April 22, 1930, the eldest of 10 children born to Maxwell and Vera Lawson. Mervyn spent his first year on their farm at Alsask Saskatchewan. In 1931 he, and his parents, moved to a farm in the Meadowvale district west of Rimbey.
He attended Meadowvale School for 8 years and then went to work doing various jobs including; logging at Hoags Mill, hauling cattle and lumber, and breaking land with his own tractor and plow.
On November 21, 1953 he married Joan Stout and they lived in a teacherage at Mountview School for 3 years. They moved to Bluffton in 1956 and resided there until his passing. During his working years, Mervyn did things like operating heavy equipment and working on the drilling rigs, however his passion and main occupation was always owner-operator of his gravel trucks. He took pride in the fact that his truck was always in tip-top shape and he spent many hours greasing, tightening and tweaking to ensure that it was.
Mervyn had a love of horses and his dogs. He enjoyed dancing, playing cards and his many journeys through the western provinces and the Yukon. He was very proud of his family and happiest when surrounded by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He often kept friends and family entertained for hours with many humorous stories of his life. He enjoyed telling them as much as everyone enjoyed listening to them.
He was predeceased by his father Max, mother Vera, brothers Jim and Arthur, sister Mary May Bauer, sister-in-law Phyllis Lawson, and brother-in-law Gene Stout.
Mervyn will be sadly missed by his wife Joan of Bluffton, his 5 children; Bob (Pam) of Bentley, Lois Terry (Brian) of Bluffton, Bruce (Beth) of Calgary, Stan (Louise) of Brownfield, Gerry (Debbie) of Rimbey, 16 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 2 brothers; Lyle and John, 4 sisters; Myrtle (Ernie), Velma (Stan), Ava, Nora (Gordon), 5 brother-in-laws; Tom (Janet) Stout, Jim (Pearl) Stout, Ted (Grace) Stout, Roy (Pat) Stout, Herb Bauer and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Mervyn's Life was held from the Rimbey United Church on Wednesday September 10, 2014 with Reverend Deborah Laing officiating.
If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre through the David Thompson Health Trust.