James Winston Lawson Jr.

James Winston Lawson, Jr. was born on April 22, 1944 to James Winston Lawson, Sr. and Nannie Hunt Lawson of Orange, Texas and died January 29, 2017 in Austin after a brief illness. He lived for a time in Klamath Falls, Oregon and enjoyed the countryside and visits to Carter Lake which he described as having the most beautiful blue water anywhere on earth. When his father’s work ran out in Klamath Falls, Mr. Lawson found work in Orange, Texas and Jimmy was told they were moving to Texas where they would have a farm and trees. They ended up in government housing where Jimmy and his friends found they could dig in sand and find mercury to play with.

He graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in 1962 in Orange. In his senior year, he fabricated a metal box for the Science Fair that was so conspicuously good that he won the Texas State competition and was awarded a trip to Chicago to attend the National Science Fair final competition at the Museum of Science and Industry. He lived for several years with his beloved Uncle Johnny and Aunt Maida Venza in Beaumont. He attended Sam Houston State University prior to beginning a career as a machinist. From a career with machines in Beaumont, Houston and other places, Jimmy moved into a second career as a long-haul truck driver and later taught big rig truck driving. Jimmy always had a love for cars and enjoyed working on and driving them. Although big American V8’s had great appeal, his greatest joy was restoring a 1978 Nissan 280Z and later a 1967 Nissan Fair Lady. He bought two wrecked Fair Ladies and made one great car from the two. He also enjoyed riding his Yamaha 650 Motorcycle. An amateur photographer, he had photographs accepted for exhibition at the Beaumont Art Museum and won awards for his work.

In the early 80’s he met the love of his life, Jacqueline Elliott, an RN in Beaumont. They retired to Elgin, Texas near Austin in 2004 to be near her daughter Tanya. Jackie died in 2010 and Jimmy tried to carry on without her, though his life was never the same. In his fondness for Oregon, his planned trip back to Klamath Falls and desire to see Carter Lake again was interrupted by health issues. His ashes will be scattered at Carter Lake per his request.

Jimmy is preceded in by his parents, sister Jo Ann Rogers.

He is survived by his brother Johnny Lawson of Houston, Loving step-daughter Tanya Elliott of Elgin, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jimmy is also survived by his dear and lifelong friends Rob, James and Scott Blain.