Letter from his children …
Our Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and your friend, J. Bryan Lawson died Thursday, April 7, 2011, in Beaumont, Texas. Daddy was ninety-two years old and some change. He was born June 29, 1918, at his Maternal Grandparent’s home in the Houston Heights, to Helen Timmerman Lawson and J. Bryan Lawson Sr. The birth certificate listed his Father’s occupation as Soldier and address as AEF Company C, 21st Engineers. Daddy was raised in Houston Heights on 927 Courtland and had his secondary education at Harvard Elementary, Hamilton Jr. High and Reagan High School, Class of 1937. Daddy left Reagan for Texas A&M College in the Spring of 1937 with his high school friend and future college roommate Boyce Good. Joining them in the Fall of 1937, were B.G. Hayes and Hulen Marshall. Daddy’s Outfit was “D” Battery Field Artillery. After graduation in 1941 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and became a pilot in the Army Air Corps. Daddy worked thirty-two years for Armco Steel in Pasadena, Texas and retired as the Plant Superintendent of Maintenance.
Daddy loved to talk about his life in the Heights, especially the Reagan years. Names that come to mind are Wilma K. Ray, his first girlfriend, Hulen Marshall, B.C Blair, B.G. Hayes, Sybil Cain Hayes, Freeman Bokencamp, who was killed in Philippines 1945, Jack Seale, who was killed in Poleski raid 1943, Harry “Ugg” Jefferson, Helen Bess, Maurice Holdgraf, Johnny Coskey, Willard Plentl, Helen Gani, Charlene George and Mary Francis Moon. Daddy went to school, played football and basketball, partied and drank beer and tended bar at the Aragon Ballroom where he also occasionally ran betting slips around town.
Daddy married Marie Biscamp in 1942 and they had two children, Susan Carol Daniel and J. Bryan Lawson, Jr. In 1964, he married Helen Jeanne Hopkins and inherited her daughter, Debra Board Brazle. Daddy was predeceased by his parents and his wife Jeanne who died in 2005. After Jeanne’s death, Daddy moved from their retirement home in Canyon Lake to Beaumont. He is survived by children, Susan Daniel and her husband, Jerry, J. Bryan Lawson, Jr. and his wife Holly and Debra Brazle and her husband Ken. Susan’s daughter, Lisa Ackley and her husband Ray; Bryan’s children, Melissa Dickerson and her husband Mike, Jeffrey Bryan and his wife Heather and Kimberly Jeffcoat and her husband Jon. Debbie’s daughters, Leah and Lane. Daddy is also survived by grandson, David Daniels. Finally the prize of a long, well lived life are the great-grandchildren, Griffin Ackley, Josephine Ackley, Jacob Dickerson, Cullen Dickerson, Katelyn Dickerson, Erin Jeffcoat, Jon Jeffcoat, Jr. and Lainey Jeffcoat who is due in July. Daddy loved his family and was an outstanding father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He took his grandchildren on various trips and picked up the Dickerson Kids at Regina Howell for three years until he was 90 years old.
Daddy lived by himself, drove and was completely independent until the last three weeks of his life. Daddy lived a full and happy life from start to finish and pretty much did it his way. He was loved and respected by his children and adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Does not get any better!
