Dawn Renee Scott

Dawn Renee Scott

July 4, 1973 - February 12, 2026

Dawn Renee Scott, 52, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply, after a courageous battle with cancer. Even in her final days, Dawn’s strength and grace reflected the way she lived her entire life, with quiet resilience, fierce love, and a heart devoted to others.

Born on July 4, 1973, in Denver, Colorado, Dawn brought light into the world from the very beginning. She graduated from Erie High School in 1992 and attended Neosho County Community College where she studied Cosmetology. She went on to dedicate more than 30 years to caregiving for adults with special needs. Her work was more than a career; it was a calling. Dawn served others with patience, dignity, and compassion, always seeing the humanity and worth in every person she cared for.

Above all else, Dawn’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted and loving mother, a proud Mimi, a cherished daughter and sister, and a treasured aunt and friend. Time spent with her children, grandchildren, parents, sister, nieces, and nephews filled her heart completely. She had a gift for making people feel safe, valued, and loved. Those who knew her will remember her unwavering strength, her gentle but fierce compassion, and the selfless way she poured herself into the lives of those she loved.

Dawn was preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Ruth Green; her mother, Patricia Simmons; and her brother, Matt Gensheer. Though she carried the weight of those losses, she continued to live with courage and devotion to her family.

She leaves behind a legacy of love in her dads, John Simmons and John Gensheer (Terri); her sister, Michelle Ray (Paul); her four children, Tim Norton (Paige), Tori Janssen (Trei), Keenan Kelly, and Javiar Scott; four cherished grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews who will forever hold her in their hearts as well as her chosen family, BJ Goff and Tom Neet.

Dawn’s life was a testament to love in action, steady, strong, and unconditional. She will be deeply missed, but the light she gave so freely will continue to shine in all who were blessed to know her. Dawn was an extraordinary woman, steady, loving, and strong in the quiet ways that matter most. The kind of person whose impact lasts far beyond her years.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary - Eudora Chapel in Eudora, KS.  The family will greet friends following the service at the chapel.