Johnny Ray Lawson


Johnny Ray Lawson, longtime Newkirk resident, died early Thursday afternoon, May 14, 2015, at Ponca City Medical Center. He was 82.

The son of John Fredrick Lawson and Gladys Lorraine Whittle Lawson, Jack was born April 17, 1933, in Stockton, Kan.

He grew up and received his education in Stockton and graduated from Stockton High School with the class of 1952. After graduation, he drove a wheat truck for Doyle Walker in the Stockton area.

On Dec. 5, 1952, Jack joined the United States Air Force and was sent to Travis Air Force Base at Vacaville, Calif., a tobacco farming area.

On June 12, 1954, Jack and Peggy Ann Pemberton were married in Vacaville where they established their first home.

He reenlisted and was assigned to National Airport in Washington D.C. but they lived in Alexandra, Va. Eventually the outfit was moved across the river to Andrews AFB.

Again he reenlisted and was assigned to Evreux Air Base in Paris, France where he served until NATO was moved from Paris to Belgium. The outfit was given the option of moving to Belgium or returning home, so they returned to the U.S. and because of their son’s health, he was sent to Edwards AFB in the desert.

He was then sent to Vietnam and his family returned to the Newkirk area. After Vietnam, he was assigned to March AFB in California. After his wife was in a terrible accident, he received a compassionate transfer to McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kan. to be closer her.

He retired as a Technical Sergeant with an Honorable Discharge Dec. 31, 1972 after serving 20 years with the Air Force.

After the service he was employed with Jr’s Lock Shop in Ponca City for a time before becoming employed with Cessna, building airplane engines.

After Cessna closed, he worked for G.E. at Strother Field until he retired. He also had a part time job pumping wells on the old Dilworth Fields.

Jack was a member of the Congregational Church of Stockton, Kan., but attended First Christian Church of Newkirk with his family. He enjoyed fishing and guns. His greatest loves were his grandchildren. He always looked for 3:05 p.m. when they would come spend time with him after school.

In Jack’s life, love for his God came first, followed by his country; his airplanes, the 118 and 229; his wife; children and grandchildren; in that order, although the grandchildren actually were pretty much equal with his planes.

He is survived by Peggy, his wife of nearly 61 years; his children, Kathy Dygert and Kent and Denise Lawson, all of Newkirk; Mary McKenny, of Louisiana; Kelley Lawson, of Tonkawa; and Megan Lawson and Chuck Winburn, of Newkirk; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a number of nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by a son, Mitchell; his parents; two brothers, Marvin and Kenton; and a grandson, Cameron.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 18 at First Christian Church with the Rev. Rex Roberts, minister of First Baptist Church officiating.

Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors provided by Vance Air Force Base of Enid. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. The body will lie in state at the funeral home Sunday from 1-9 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until noon.

Those serving as casket bearers will be Dennis Bradley, Richard Hinthorn, Grant Lawrence, Tim Walker, Shannon Wathor and Sheldon Wise.