Patrick Marion LAWSON

Patrick Marion Lawson was born in Seattle, Washington on July 13, 1948 to Lloyd and Marta Lawson. He passed peacefully holding the hand of his loving wife, Michele, on November 21, 2012 after a long fight with multiple myeloma. Pat grew up in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood near Fort Lawton, playing in the woods with his brother, Mike and his friends from Saint Margaret’s grade school. He graduated from Queen Anne High school and studied property management at Shoreline Community College and under the tutelage of Rod Kauffman at the Space Needle. Pat’s career path included work as the Operations Manager at the Space Needle, as a long distance big rig truck driver in all the lower 48 states and Canada, in construction with his brother Mike, as Director of Operations and Facilities at the Port of Anacortes, and as Operations Supervisor at Kemper Development Company. Part of his success in life was attributable to his prolific list-making. Pat had lists for everything except a list of his lists. Pat served as a Gunner’s Mate in the US Navy in Viet Nam and then continued his service to our country in the Air National Guard reserves and on active duty after 9/11, spending over 23 years in military service. Anyone who met Pat was impressed by his kindness, respect for others, and his integrity. He was a devoted husband, an inspiration as a father, and a friend to many. He was an avid motorcycle rider, loved to hike and camp, and travel. He was planning a retirement on the road with Michele in a motorhome but his illness took him before they were able to achieve that dream. Pat is most likely busy in heaven making a list for future trips with that big motorhome in the sky. Pat is survived by his wife, Michele, his beloved daughters, Audrey Sophia Lawson, and Mary Lawson, sister, Mimi Hagan and her husband, Chuck, brother, Mike Lawson, many nieces and nephews, and his best friend, Michael Mosey. Pat was a great husband, great father, and a great brother and a great friend. A family memorial service was held on December 9th and his ashes will be interred with military honors at the Tahoma National Cemetery in the New Year. (Date to be announced.) In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Disabled American Veterans (http://www.dav.org/donate/Default.aspx) or to Veterans of Foreign Wars (http://www.vfw.org/Contribute/)