Robert Brooks Dawson Jr.

After a long illness, Robert Brooks Dawson, Jr., fondly known as Brooks, went home to his Eternal Father on June 13, 2024. He was born in Savannah, GA on December 11, 1937 to Robert Brooks Dawson, Sr. and Annie Laurie Mason Dawson. Brooks was preceded in death by his parents, 18 aunts and uncles and numerous cousins.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Kendall Dawson of La Grange, TX, daughter, Janet Dawson Clements of Pine Lake, GA, son, Robert Brooks Dawson III (Moni) of Savannah, GA, son, Craig Ryon Dawson (Delilah) of Roswell GA. stepchildren, Daniel H. Henderson (Sally) of Austin, TX, Frank A. K. Henderson (Jennifer) of Savannah, GA, and Elisabeth H. Zucknick (Stephen) of Thrall, TX, grandchildren Rebecca D. Scott (Eric) of Austin, TX, Charleston Clements of Augusta ME and Cleo and Rex Dawson of Roswell GA, as well as step-grandchildren Daniel J. and Logan A. Zucknick of Thrall, TX, Matthew and Mark Henderson of Austin, TX and Izzabella Bloom of Savannah, GA.
He attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC, where he majored in electrical engineering and served as a Naval Cadet. After joining the Navy he served aboard the USS Forestal as a Naval Aviator during the pre-Vietnam era. Following his service, he returned to Savannah and went to work for Hercules Powder Co., first as a lab technician and later as a field representative, which sent him traveling all over the world. But Savannah always lured him home and he ended his career as the Chatham County Water and Waste Water Administrator. In his final years, he reluctantly followed Mary to her home in Texas. After about six weeks in their new home, he asked her in a surprised tone why it took so long to "get here," because he found it to be both beautiful and peaceful.
His fondest childhood memories were of summers spent with family in Bluffton, SC, where the rules of the day included boating, crabbing, shrimping and swimming, followed by evenings of feasting and story-telling. Between his parents and their siblings, he had over 40 first cousins, so you can imagine the impact those gatherings had on an only child! Later in life, he was an active member of the North-South Skirmish Association (NSSA), where her served several terms as Commander of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, enjoying shooting muzzle-loading rifles and canons competitively and winning over 30 medals in the process. He also enjoyed sailing, practicing and teaching primitive camping and participating in living history activities.
But his first love was his Lodge, Ancient Landmark/Clinton #54 F&AM, Savannah GA, where he served as Master of Ancient Landmark four times, as well as holding numerous other offices. He also spent untold hours training new members, building camaraderie within the brotherhood and putting together fund raisers to support Lodge philanthropies. For his service, he received his 50 year apron in 2016. Later in life, he also joined Thunderbolt Lodge #693 F&AM, where he expanded his circle of brothers and friends, often rising well before dawn to go "sit by the pit" as the lodge prepared for locally-famous barbecue fundraisers.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in La Grange, TX on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10:30 a.m., followed immediately by Military Honors on the church grounds. Family and friends are invited to visit with the family in the Parish Hall following the service. There will also be a Masonic memorial service held in Savannah, GA at 7 p.m. on July 5 in the Scottish Rite Masonic building, 3001 Chatham Center Dr. A private distribution of ashes will occur at a later date in Savannah, GA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter, janssenanimalshelter.org, Hospice Brazos Valley, www.hospicebrazosvalley.org, the Gary Sinise Foundation, www.garysinisefoundation.org or a charity of your choice.
Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com.
Memorial arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations in La Grange and Ancient Landmark/Clinton #54 F&AM in Savannah.