Eugene
Clifton Lawson
November 29, 1932 - April 22, 2022Eugene was born November 29,
1932 and raised in Dallas, Texas where his parents Cleo and Mary Lawson
worked in the textile industry. He had one older sister,
Anita Fae. Cleo and Mary
were strong believers in Christ and raised Nita Fae and Eugene in the
Baptist church.
Eugene was drafted into the Army in 1950 during the Korean War and
served a little over two years in France and then in Korea during the
reconstruction. He was assigned to the motor pool as a diesel and wheel
mechanic. One day while working on a large truck transmission, his
finger was caught in one of the moving parts and was instantly cut off
at the knuckle. He kept his finger in a jar on the shelf of his locker
until he was ready to part with it. It was not until just recently that
he told his family the real story of how he lost his finger. He told all
the children that asked about it that, “he was picking his nose one day,
and a buggar bit it off.” The military gave him $5 for the loss of his
finger. He tried several times to appeal the amount and receive more,
but the military only valued a little finger at $5 and so he eventually
gave up.
Eugene’s parents bought a ranch in Oklahoma, but his dad passed away not
long after they purchased it. He would go up there to help his mom with
the cattle and other chores. He would speak of his time on the ranch
with great fondness. You could tell he really enjoyed it.
Eugene worked as a truck driver, driving for Red Arrow Freight Liner for
many years. He drove 18-wheelers primarily around the Dallas area until
he retired.
Eugene married Mary Darnell and they took many trips to Gulf Shores,
Alabama where they visited her large family. They had two children Bruce
and Wendy. Bruce played football at Texas A&M and Eugene would drive to
College Station each weekend to watch the games. After 29 years of
marriage, Eugene and Mary divorced and he married Peggy Jones. They
lived in Irving until her death.
Eugene’s daughter Wendy lives in Farmers Branch and has 2 children,
Justin and Heather. Justin is married to Emily and they have a daughter,
Kynslee and a son, Cason. Eugene’s son, Bruce is married to Peggy Dowdy
and they live in Missouri City. Bruce and Peggy have a ranch in
Paradise, Texas and Eugene loved to visit and see the deer and cows. He
called it the Ponderosa. Bruce and Peggy have two sons, Zac and Corbin.
Zac is married to Becky, they have two boys, Gentry and Cutler, and they
live in Paradise on a ranch. Eugene has had several dogs that he has
loved. Fifi a black poodle, CisCi a black Labrador and Molly a chocolate
Lab, who now lives with Wendy. |