Donald Lawson

Donald (Don) Richard Lawson passed away on November 5, 2021 in Roswell, New Mexico at the age of 69.

Don is survived by his three daughters and their partners: Kara Mendez and Guadalupe Mendez of Spring, TX, Dana Lawson and J Laramie of Damascus, OR and Gena Lawson Christian Newman of Albuquerque, NM; one son, Viktor Lawson and Cheryl Lawson of Odessa, TX; one sister, Patricia Williams of Dallas, TX; and nine grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents: Richard M. Lawson and Mattie B. Lawson, two brothers: John H. Lawson and Edward L. Lawson.

Don was born in Clovis, New Mexico to Richard and Mattie Lawson on December 5, 1950. The youngest of four, Don found himself living all over the nation with his father working for the Veterans Administration: New Mexico, Kentucky, Minnesota. He graduated high school from Rosemount High School in Rosemount, Minnesota in 1969. He enlisted in the US Army in 1971 along with his two older brothers and served in South Korea for two years during the Vietnam War as a Communication Center Specialist. He was honorably discharged in 1974.

Don married Beverly G. Gray on October 6, 1976. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico in 1977 with an Associates in Petroleum Technology. He worked in the oilfields of Southeastern New Mexico for 34 years in various roles from working with pumping and flowing wells, water floods and water disposal to drilling, production accounting, supervision, pumpers and relieving foremans among several other positions. In 1979, Beverly and Don welcomed their daughter, Kara and moved to Eunice, NM and stayed in the area raising their family until 2011 when he retired. After retirement, Don moved with his wife Beverly to Rio Rancho, NM for a few years before finally settling back in Roswell, NM to be near his brother.

Don was an enthusiastic sports fan and enjoyed talking and watching any and all sports. He was highly skilled with puzzle solving, word games and mathematical equations. He loved animals and could always be found with them wanting to be near him. Don also loved watching short films, kung fu and horror films. He was a great conversationalist and a caring grandfather to his grandchildren.

Due to circumstances last year preventing a service for his wife, Beverly, a joint Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, November 11, 2021 at LaGrone Funeral Chapel in Roswell, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions or private donations be made to one of the following charities: Vietnam Veterans of America (vva.org), Oilfield Helping Hands (oilfieldhelpinghands.org), or one of his children.