Charles Lawson

WHITEWATER, Mo. -- Charles H. "Skip" Lawson Sr., 59, of Whitewater, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at the family home following an illness.

He was born June 10, 1944, at St. Louis, the son of Homer and Irene Durbin Lawson. He married Diana Lynn Strayhorn on Oct. 5, 1981, at St. Louis. She survives.

He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, a retired 20-year veteran of the St. Louis Police Department and a member of the Advance United Methodist Church.

He also was a member of the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post of Jackson, a VFW post in St. Louis, Whitewater Masonic Lodge 417 and Whitewater Eastern Star Chapter 174.

He was a 32-degree member of the Missouri Valley Scottish Rite in St. Louis and a member of the Royal Order of Amaranth Cape Girardeau Order No. 14.

He also was a member of the St. Louis Police Association, a Republican committeeman for Cape Girardeau County for the past 10 years, a member of the Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri and a member of the United Native American People.

He also is survived by his mother of Advance, Mo.; a son, Charles Lawson Jr. of Perryville, Mo.; a daughter, Wanda Djerf of Dallas, Texas; a half brother, Fred Lawson of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, a half brother and a half sister.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill, Mo. An Order of Eastern Star service will start at 7 tonight followed by a Masonic service.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Revs. Tom Zych and Virgil Bunch officiating.

Burial will be at Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery near Marble Hill with full military honors by the Missouri Honors Team.