John F. Lawson

JOHNSON CITY, TN - Dr. John F. Lawson, 85, of Colonial Hill Retirement Center, Johnson City, died Thursday, April 12, 2007.

The memorial service for Dr. Lawson will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, in the sanctuary of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Brian Taylor and Mr. Doug DeJarnett officiating.

Dr. Lawson was a native of Erwin and was a son of the late Robert Wesley and Lettie Brown Lawson.

He graduated from Unicoi County High School at age 16, then attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Dr. Lawson obtained his undergraduate degree in 1942 and his Medical Degree in 1944 both from Duke University. He served his internship at Duke University and his residency at Duke, Vanderbilt and Mountain Home VA Medical Center, Johnson City.

Dr. Lawson began surgical practice in Johnson City in 1952, and retired from practice in 1993. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He served a term as chief of medical staff at the former Johnson City Memorial Hospital and also served as Assistant Professor of Surgery at East Tennessee State University College of Medicine. The John Lawson Surgical Group was named in his honor following his retirement. In 2002, the John Lawson Surgical Lectureship was created at the Department of Surgery at ETSU College of Medicine to honor his distinguished surgical career.

Dr. Lawson served 12 years on the Johnson City Board of Education, serving twice as chairman.

Dr. Lawson was a member of the Johnson City Community Band. He and Eloise Pope performed concerts at local retirement centers as recently as fall 2006.

He was an avid golfer and loved playing tennis. Dr. Lawson and his brother, Tom won the Johnson City doubles tennis championships in 1959. He was an experienced musician, playing the clarinet, saxophone and piano.

He was a member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church and was a former member of the executive board at Munsey.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by seven brothers and one sister.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Joann Kroetz Lawson, of the home; two daughters, Marcia Lawson Dunn, Spruce Pine and Dr. Elizabeth Anne Lawson, Johnson City; two sons, John Robert Lawson, Johnson City, and Dr. James Douglas Lawson, Greensboro; five granddaughters and six grandsons; three great-grandsons; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. tonight in the East Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the John Lawson Surgical Lectureship Endowment, ETSU Foundation, P.O. Box 70721, Johnson City, TN, 37614 or the John Lawson Memorial Instrumental Music Library, Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1336, Johnson City, TN, 37605.

Appalachian Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 800 E Watauga Ave., is serving the Lawson family.

Condolences may be emailed to appfuneralhome@embarqmail.com