Sylvia G. Lawson

A memorial service for Sylvia Grace Lawson, 66, of Racine, will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the United Methodist Church in Spring Valley, with the Rev. David Lieder officiating.

Mrs. Lawson died on Saturday, Aug. 26, following a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, where she had been a resident for the past week.

Sylvia was born on Aug. 20, 1951, in Rochester to Edward and Mary (Rhoten) Dormody. She grew up in rural Racine Township and attended and graduated from Stewartville High School in 1969. She attended Rochester Community and Technical College receiving a two-year Associates Degree in nursing. Sylvia was married on Dec. 19, 1970, at the United Methodist Church in Stewartville to Leslie H. Lawson. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Stewartville for a short time before moving to Racine, where they built their house, raised their kids, and have continued to make their home. Sylvia had a 42-year nursing career at Mayo Clinic, primarily in the Obstetrics Department at Rochester Methodist Hospital until her retirement in 2014. Les was a longtime employee and supervisor for Weis Builders Construction in Rochester.

Sylvia was a past member of the Stewartville United Methodist Church. She belonged to various quilting groups and has enjoyed quilting as a hobby for many years. Sylvia and Les have enjoyed traveling through the years beginning with family vacations, winter trips to Mexico, Florida and Arizona; and this June, all the Lawson family vacationed in Arizona. They spent many summers at their cabin on Cedar Lake in Faribault. Sylvia was an excellent baker and cook, liked to entertain in her home or at the lake, was an avid reader, and followed Minnesota sports teams and sports in general. She loved time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Les; and one daughter and two sons, Jeremy (Amy) of rural Racine, Heather (Jason) Byrne of Stewartville, and Brandon (Nicole) of Pine Island; four grandchildren, Kayla, Brecken, Audra and Justin; her mother, Mary Geraldine Dormody, of Rochester; two sisters and three brothers, Paul (Marge) Dormody of Hudson,Wis., Stuart (Adrienne) Dormody of Rochester, Dorothy (Mike) Paukert of Rochester, Linda Ward (Arthur Long, Jr.) of Eden Prairie, and Dale (Kathryn) Dormody of Gilford, N.H.; and many nieces and nephews. Sylvia was preceded in death by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Howard and Betty Lawson; her father, Edward Dormody; and grandparents.

A time of visitation for friends and family will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug 28, at Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday morning in Spring Valley. A private family burial will take place at a later date.

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com.