John Dawson McLemore

John Dawson McLemore, of Fortson, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, February 15 th at the age of 89.

Dawson was born on January 11, 1937 to William Henry McLemore and Sarah Faith Sewell McLemore in Rochelle, Georgia. He is predeceased by his parents, his sister Willie LaVerne Bussell and his brother, Bobby Lamar McLemore. He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia Ragan McLemore, and his sister, Betty McLemore Nesmith. After graduating from Cochran High School, Dawson joined the Navy at the age of 17 with the promise to his Dad to come back and finish his schooling when he got out. While in the Navy from his enlistment in 1955, Dawson was an Aviation Ordnance Man AO3 3 rd class Petty Officer. He served aboard the USS Yorktown during peacetime until 1957. He always said that he loved the Navy and it was the best thing to ever happen to him and is what made him into a man. Keeping his promise to his Dad, he returned to earn his Associates degree in Business from Georgia Middle College. After graduating from college, he met and later in 1961, married his wife of 50 years, Evelyn June Lamberth who predeceased him in 2011. They had 5 children together, Marshall Tillman (Bubba) McLemore (Lora), William Keith McLemore (Tonia), Don Calvin McLemore (Lynne), Donna Jean McLemore Hutto (James), and John Darin McLemore (Tonya). He has 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Dawson held many jobs prior to the founding of his company, Masterbuilt. He was a cashier and delivery boy at Willie Reeves Grocery Store after school in Cochran, he was a land surveyor of cotton and peanut fields, sold Life Insurance where he collected debits on his numerous routes, and then worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 10 years. He decided after all of this, that it was time for him to be his own boss and to create and make things with his own hands. He started fulfilling his dream of doing just that in the backyard of a rental house on Thomason Avenue in Columbus, GA in 1972. He designed and built fern stands and baker’s racks out of steel; while teaching his kids how to weld and mass produce these items when they got home from school. After a year in the backyard with his family working with him, even at a very young age, Dawson decided it was time in 1973 to move this backyard operation into a larger place. He found an old building on 29 th Street and 2 nd Avenue in Columbus that he could rent. This is where M&M Welding was born. It was named for he and his sons working together. As this space then became too small, he later moved to a rented building on 29 th Steet and after being there awhile he then convinced the City of Columbus, to sell him the old Bus Barn on 2 nd Avenue and it was there that Masterbuilt became a reality.

Dawson was a deeply devoted man to “the Good Lord”. He would always put God first in any and everything he did. On his way back from one of his many on-the-road sales trip, he was having one of his talks with the Good Lord, and looked in his rearview mirror and saw the setting sun and he told the Lord that he would not be able to make this business into what he wanted it to be without His help. He spoke to the Lord and asked, “if you will help me, I will name the company after You. You are the Master and I am the Builder and I will call it Masterbuilt,” and thus began Dawson’s dream. His family was always by his side and were totally involved in the company as it grew and expanded and became a world-wide recognized company. In 1984, Dawson decided that it was time to turn Masterbuilt over to the boys. He retired at 47years old. During these retirement years he never stopped. He was always searching for new and exciting adventures. He and Boots travels extensively for months at a time until her health would not allow her to continue. Dawson was an avid scuba and cave diver, he loved off-shore boats and took many trips to the Keys to fish and camp on sandbars, he also loved to fish in fresh water. You never could out fish him, no matter how hard you tried. He bought many Airstream trailers and fixed them up and sold them from his backyard. He became an expert Archer. He would shoot tournaments all over the Southeast. In 1996, he was the World Champion in the Senior Class of the ASA Pro-Am for archery. He loved riding dirt bikes with his sons and many friends, and he was a very passionate hunter. Dawson took many trips to Colorado for elk but loved the white tail deer here in Georgia. He leased and bought property to run Deer Clubs for his buddies, friends and family to be able to gather and enjoy the outdoors and enjoy the fellowship. Many lasting relationships began at these Deer Camps and have only gotten stronger as the years have passed by.

Dawson was a founder of the Bi-City Woodturners which was established in 2003. It is a club where anyone interested in turning wood on a lathe can join and meet others with the same interests. He has turned over 300 pieces which fill his home. He is most proud of his accomplishment of turning 29 cowboy hats. Dawson was able to look at a chunk of wood and he knew exactly what he was going to turn out of it. He enjoyed turning pieces that were very unique and one-of-a-kind creations. He continued his love of this hobby until he passed away. In 2012, a new face showed up at the club meetings and the Monday sessions at Dawson’s shop. Little did he know that she would steal his heart while learning to turn wood from him. Cynthia Ragan McLemore is Dawson’s loving wife, best friend, and forever partner in experiencing a wonderful, laughter filled life. They married in 2016 and shared many trips ‘Out West’, to the Keys, Cancun, Alaska, Disneyworld and anywhere else they wanted to go. They built so many lasting memories together that will always have a special place in her heart, that she will find comfort and strength in, in the coming days and years. She and Dawson loved being with family celebrating everything together. They especially loved being with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and sharing that happiness together every day for 10 wonderful years. His 89 years on this Earth have left and indelible mark on many and an incredible legacy of love, kindness, faithfulness, love of country, hard work and loyalty. He would always share that sweet, gentle smile and firm handshake with any and every one he met. He will be missed by so many that knew and loved him because he touched their lives in a deep and lasting way.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday, February 19, 2026 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Rev. Michael Spooner officiating. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. Internment with military honors will be held following the service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Waverly Hall, GA.

Flowers will be accepted and the family requests that if you so choose, to donate to the United Service Organizations (USO) which supports our service members and their families, or Tunnel to Towers Foundation which provides mortgage-free homes to veterans and Gold Star families, helps eradicate veteran homelessness and supports families of fallen first responders.