Carol A. Lawson

Carol A. (Santamour) Lawson, 83, a resident of Bow, NH, formerly of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at Granite VNA Hospice House, Concord, NH, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of William H. Lawson with whom she shared 65 years of marriage.
Carol was born in Lowell on August 16, 1941, and was the daughter of the late Edgar W. and Jessie Rose (Sargent) Santamour. Carol was raised in Chelmsford and graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1959. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lowell, where she met the love of her life.
Carol and Bill were married at Calvary Baptist Church on August 8th, 1959, and thus began their 65 years of marriage. Carol lived briefly in Rhode Island while Bill was away at sea with the Navy, but soon returned to Chelmsford where she settled to raise her family in a home built by her father. Her beloved brother, Ed, who predeceased her, lived next door with his wife Marilyn. Ed would join her for coffee every morning. Carol stayed home and devoted herself to raising her four children. She took on part-time jobs from time to time and would deposit much of this money into her Holiday Fund. Carol loved Christmas and every year she hosted a large family celebration on Christmas Eve. She enjoyed sewing, needlework, ceramics and was a member of the Chelmsford Garden Club. She also spent much time in her sewing room creating outfits for herself and her children to model at the annual church fashion show. As her children got older, she went to work for a company called Jafra. She excelled at what she did and quickly climbed the ranks to District Director Level III. Her family was proud of her achievements, but no one more than her husband. He was her cheerleader and always encouraged her to reach for her goals.
Carol was a hands-on Mom and spent much of her time in the car driving to and from baseball practice, games, dance class and recitals, scouts and Ocean Park. Her happy place was Ocean Park, Maine. Years of amazing and wonderful memories spent with family in her oceanside community. Her next favorite place was wherever her camper could take her and her beloved husband. She and Bill enjoyed traveling most of all. When her husband retired, she chose to retire as well, and they went on to have many fun adventures together, including working part-time for Disney World in Florida. This was truly her dream job. She and Bill worked side by side in the park greeting guests and participating in the magic that is both Disney and their amazing marriage together. Some of their adventures included sailing to the Caribbean on their sailboat, traveling in their coach across the country, and spending their winters in Florida where Carol liked to sit next to Bill on the jetty, look out to sea and plan their next adventure.
Family meant everything to Carol. She had a very special bond with several people including her brother Ed - who was her best friend and confidante, his two daughters, Lynne and Marcia – she loved to spend time with her nieces. Carol's two cousins, Bette and Elaine were her "sisters" the three of them enjoyed so many adventures together. They rented a beach house in Salisbury every year for more than 20 years and enjoyed their "sister time". Carol loved to play golf and was in a league with Bette for years. The three of them also loved to gamble and had an annual trip to Foxwoods to play the slot machines!
Carol, aka Gram, loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She could always be counted on to help build sandcastles or jump waves in the ocean. She attended all their school plays, sporting events and dance recitals and was happy to fork over money for all the school fundraisers! She bought a lot of boy scout popcorn, candy bars and girl scout cookies! She is going to be missed by so many people.
In addition to her loving husband, Carol leaves her children, Douglas Lawson and his wife Sandra, Randall Lawson and his wife Joan, Stephen Lawson and his wife Deborah, and Pam Lawson Ely. She also leaves thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren, Jarrett Corr and his husband Nolan Haskovec, Kara Messinese and her husband J.T. and their daughter Isabella, Michael Lawson and his wife Christine and their two boys, Joey and Henry, Brent Lawson and his wife Colleen, Andy Lawson, Jerad Dahlson and his wife Shelby and their son Bowie, Johnathan Lawson, David Lawson and his partner Patrick Wallace, Katie Lawson and her husband Alex Corvino, Nick Ely-Myers and his partner Paul Bourgault, Emma Ely, Anna Ely and Rachel Ely.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024, from 4 pm – 7 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Her funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday at 10:00 am. Interment to follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, CHELMSFORD. Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org