Elsie J. Lawson

Elsie J. Lawson, age 71, of Savanna, Illinois, died on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna, with Reverend Gary Abney officiating. Burial will follow in the Savanna Township Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Memorials may be directed to the Savanna Children’s Christmas Fund C/O Savanna Times Journal, 315 Main Street, Savanna, Illinois 61074. Elsie was born March 19, 1938, in Chadwick, Illinois, the daughter of William and A. Blanche (Meador) Beaston. Elsie married John N. Lawson on April 14, 1956 in Stockton, Illinois. John died on January 9, 1989, in Iowa City.
Elsie worked at Valves and Control, Eaton and Alco in Savanna. She also worked as a Home Health Care Aid. Elsie was a member of New Hope Assembly of God Church, Savanna. Elsie also volunteered at the Savanna Food Pantry twice a week. She enjoyed camping, fishing with a cane pole, traveling and going to flea markets. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.
Elsie is survived by two sons, Dan (Donna) Lawson of Greentown, Indiana and Steven Lawson of Savanna; three daughters Cynthia (Joe) Cinquina of Lexington, Kentucky, Christine (Tim) Nicholson of Fulton, Illinois, and Barbara (Robert) Eacker of Chadwick, Illinois; fifteen grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold (Sheila) Beaston of Greenbrier, Arkansas; three sisters, Ada Frye of Waterloo, Iowa, Edna Buchholz of Mt. Carroll, Illinois and Carol (Dan) Ingersoll of Savanna, Illinois.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; two sons, John William and Ryan Wesley; three sisters, Alta Fisher, Wilma Beaston and Alice Hyke; and three brothers, Kenneth, Dean and Lawrence Beaston.