Mr. Gary David Lawson, age 82, of Hollister, Florida, Gary entered this life on January 3, 1943 in Happy, Perry County, Kentucky. He was the son of the late Carl S. and Lula B. (Combs) Lawson. He was raised in Kentucky where he attended high school. Gary was inducted into the United States Army on March 29, 1962 in Fork Knox, Kentucky. He served in the Vietnam War for almost three years, receiving the Sharpshooter Badge for the M-14 Rifle. Gary was transferred to the reserves on March 12, 1965 in Fort Hamilton, New York and was later honorably discharged on November 1, 1967. Gary was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Spellman on September 31, 1968 in Clintwood, West Virginia. They renewed their wedding vows on February 14, 2012 at the Church of Christ in Scottsburg, Indiana. They resided in Scott County, Indiana, and later moved to the Switzerland County community in 1987 until 2016 when they made Putnam County, Florida their home. He was a former mechanic and electrician for Morgan Packing Company in Scott County, Indiana. Gary and Barb took pride in remodeling and flipping homes in Scott County, Indiana. They spent 10 years hauling water for their customers in Switzerland County, Indiana. He was a former member of the Vevay VFW Post %396 and was active in his faith, initially attending the Church of Christ in Scottsburg, Indiana, before transferring to the Vevay Church of Christ. Gary enjoyed riding his motorcycle and tinkering on old cars. He was a true jack of all trades and was known for his handyman skills and had a talent for fixing just about anything. Gary passed away at 10:40 p.m., Monday, February 10, 2025, at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida.
Gary will be missed by his wife, Barbara Jean (Spellman) Lawson of Hollister, FL; his sons, Steven Willis and his wife, Janice of Brownstown, IN, David Lawson and his wife, Christal of Rising Sun, IN, and Donald Lawson and his wife, Marilyn of Vevay, IN; his daughter, Sheila Kay Lawson of Scottsburg, IN; his grandchildren, Charles Lawson and his wife, Breanna, Justin Lawson, Elexis Lawson, Christopher Campbell, and Tiffany Campbell; his great-grandchildren; his sisters, Myrlene Spicer and her husband, James of Austin, IN, and Linda Sue Lawson of Austin, IN; his brother, Bobby Lawson and his wife, Ella of Austin, IN, and his several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Dawn “Kim” Hickman, died July 12, 2019; his father, Carl S. Lawson, died January 5, 1988; his mother, Lula B. (Combs) Lawson, died July 18, 2006; his sisters, Maxie Gordon Lawson, died Julie 13, 1969, Margaret G. (Lawson) Reynolds, died March 5, 2019, Winiferd O. “Wendy” (Lawson) Hammons, died February 16, 2024, and his brother, Carl Gene Lawson, Jr., died September 29, 2021.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment and full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 1415 North Gate Road, Madison, Indiana 47250.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charity of the Donor’s Choice. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com