St. Clair County Obits

LILLIAN G. (SMITH) DAWSON

Lillian Gertrude Dawson, 88, of Harrisonville, Missouri passed away May 16, 1994 at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri. She was born May 14, 1906 near Roscoe, Missouri, the daughter of Wilks Franklin and Betty (Green) Smith. She attended Benton Green grade school and graduated from Roscoe High School in 1929.

She was married to Espie Thomas Dawson of Roscoe,Missouri on Dec. 24, 1929. He preceded her in death on June 26, 1985. Espie and Lillian moved to Peculiar, Missouri with their seven children in 1943 and in 1952 they moved to a farm near Harrisonville. Lillian moved to her home in Harrisonville after Espie's death.

Lillian was a member of the Daugherty United Methodist Church, southeast of Harrisonville, where she served on the church board of directors for several years acting as the secretary-treasurer. Also, at the same time she was secretary-treasurer of the Hutchinson country school board. Lillian was a sewing and cooking leader and the community leader of the Hutchinson 4-H club. She was a member of the Pleasant Valley Homemakers Extension Club.

She was a homemaker, loving mother and wife, who loved music, gardening, tending to her many lovely flowers and mowing her yard. She always believed in living the Golden Rule.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, one son, Thomas Benton (Tom) in 1989, her sisters, Mollie Dawson, Birdie Garver and Eunice Smith and a brother, Willie Smith. She is survived by two sons: Bill R. Dawson, Ontario, Ca. and Burnis L. (Bernie) Dawson of Harrisonville. four daughters: Betty Hughes, husband, Jim of Harrisonville, Mo., Mary Zumwalt, husband, Vincent of Cleveland, Mo., Dolores Bassett, husband, Art of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Carol Jakubczak, husband, Jim of Kansas City, Mo. One brother, Roy Smith, wife, Wreatha of Roscoe, Mo., two sisters: Myrtle Colson, Camdenton, Mo., and Madeline Mitchell, husband, Lee of Collins, Mo. Eleven grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Services were held Friday, May 20, 1994 at the Atkinson Funeral Chapel in Harrisonville, Mo. Music was provided by Misti Gile singing "Will There Be any Stars In My Crown" and "Peace In The Valley."

Honorary Casketbearers: Lucille Cloud, Clara Rosebrough, Marie Diamond, Ruth Mathis, Claudine Arnold, Helen D. smith, Laura Breashears.

Casketbearers: Tom Dawson, Espie Hughes, Vince Zumwalt, Kevin Dawson, Gary Mathews, Steve McBride.

Interment
Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Harrisonville, Missouri

Submitted by: Betty A. Hughes