Maudie A. Lawson

Since I have the luxury of a terminal illness and the experience of having been an obituary writer I have chosen to write my own obituary.
I was born Maudie Ann Wood on May 16, 1955, the youngest child of Vester Gorman "Chunk" Wood and Maude Emily (Hart) in Gainesville, Ozark County, Mo. My father gave me the nickname "Pud" when I was a very young child and my family has always called me that. My father died when I was five and my mother died in 1983. I come from a long line of Ozarks natives, a mix of Scotts-Irish and Cherokee. I died at the age of 55 in my home after battling colon cancer for several years. I have lived a big and full life and been lucky enough to experience much happiness, mostly through my love of family and friends.
I grew up in Gainesville and attended elementary and high school there. I attended School of the Ozarks, now College of the Ozarks in Pt. Lookout, Mo. for two years before moving to Orange County, Calif., where I worked in various manufacturing jobs. During my stay in California I also worked as a rigging splicer for a yacht company, which I always considered one of my favorite jobs. In the late 70s I moved to Springfield and attended Graff Vocational Technical School, now OTC, for machine shop training. In 1981 I graduated from Southwest Missouri State, now MSU, with a degree in Psychology and Writing. I started working for the News-Leader before my son was born and ended up staying there for 20 years. I started part-time in the Classified Dept. and worked in the Dispatch Dept. for a short time before moving to the newsroom to become an obituary writer. I found my career as a news librarian and worked with some of the finest people over the next 20 years, many of whom became close personal friends. I was also instrumental in the launch of the newsroom's website and had become interested in database development. I have always been proud to be an employee of the News-Leader and hope that the newspaper industry survives the electronic age. I have been an avid reader and amateur writer.
I married the love of my life, Gregory Jay Lawson, on June 28, 1981. Not only have I loved Greg but I respect him. I was very blessed to have married into a family that I hold in the highest regard and with great love.
I am survived by my husband, Greg, of the home; a daughter, Emily Lawson and her partner Greta Gayer; my dearly beloved grandson, Thorin Lynnwood Vincent and his father, Jesse James Vincent, all of Fayetteville, Ark. and a son, Jacob Lawson of Springfield. Also surviving in age order are: two half-sisters, Dorothy Goodin of Grandview and her children, Scott and Barry Burtrum and Gina Hoffman and Pat Miller of Ava and her sons, Bob, Dave and John Miller; sisters, Jolene "Jody" Wooldridge of Branson and her son, Shane Wooldridge and Joyce Boone and her husband, Dan Of Spring Mills, Penn. and her son, Glenn Eric Pitts; brothers, Michael "Mike" Wood and his wife JoNell "Jody" of Wright City and their children, Amanda "Mandy" and Joshua Wood, Richard "Rick" Wood and his wife, Karla of Fremont Hills and his daughter, Shelby Holman and Randall "Randy" Wood of Rogersville and his children, Noah Wood and Lindsey Ikram; and sisters, Nora Lou Furry of Springfield and her children, Jon and Janeen Latham and Judith "Judy" Wood of Springfield and her daughter, Brittany Marcus. I am also survived by several great nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends. In addition I am survived by my husband's parents, Ken and Caroline Lawson of Springfield and brothers-in-law, Bruce Lawson and his wife, Andrea of Springfield and their children, Michelle, Kristin and Jack; and John Lawson and his wife, Tanya of Rogersville and their son, John Wayne Lawson; and my husband's aunt Nancy McNish and her daughters, Susan Reichert and Jennifer Downer. I am also survived by my beloved LeFaun "Nana" Lea, matriarch of the Lawson family.
I was preceded in death by my parents; a daughter, Sarah Lee Lawson and two nieces, LeeAnn Latham and Elizabeth Lawson.
A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 9th at Community Christian Church with the Rev. Roger Ray and Linda Leicht officiating. Another memorial celebration will be held at a later date at the Woodpecker Lodge in Ozark County. I will be buried in the Hart Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hart Cemetery C/O Pattie Ayers, HC 2 Box 2794, Theodosia, Mo. 65761; Community Christian Church of Springfield, 4806 E. Cherry, Springfield, Mo. 65809 or Hospice & Palliative Care, 1538 S. Enterprise, Springfield, Mo. 65804.
I have always believed in the importance of community and greatly value my family and friends. I ask that those who knew me take a moment to appreciate the life you are given and for just one day, let it be enough.
"Mourn for a time
Those moments we will not share.
But make it short.
Death is a part of this cycle
And should not be given more
importance than the life that is being lived."