Michael Beau Lawson

Mike was born in Shawnee, OK, January 22, 1944, to Robert Ezra Lawson and Theresa Vashti Goodson Lawson.

Much of his early childhood was spent in small towns in northeastern and western Oklahoma where his parents taught school.

In 1956 Mike and his mother returned to Shawnee where he completed his primary and secondary education.  Mike graduated from Shawnee High School in 1961. He proudly served as senior-class president.

The summer following graduation, Mike met his future wife, Cheryl Stapp, on a tennis court at Boy Scout Park, Shawnee, OK. They were married August 21, 1965. This past August marked their 60th year of marriage.

Mike graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee. He then earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at The University of Oklahoma, Norman. A Postdoctoral tenure in Chelate Chemistry was completed at the University of California, Irvine.

Following his formal education, he joined for a decade the research department at Halliburton Services, Duncan, OK, as a chemist and group leader. His research resulted in several patents and numerous scientific publications.

Mike was member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Sigma Xi, the Pottawatomie County Historical Society, and the Oklahoma Historical Society.

During the Vietnam War, Mike enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard from 1967 to 1974 before being Honorably Discharged.

In 1974 Mike and Cheryl opened Mayme's Miss & Mrs., a women's clothing store on MacArthur Street in Shawnee, OK. That business continues today after more than fifty years.

With the birth of their only son McKinley in 1979, Mike proudly became a father. That same joy was repeated in 2021 when his only grandson Freddie was born in Colorado.

Mike loved music. He played the trumpet in the high school band and learned to play the guitar and drums as well. He has written several copyrighted songs, plays, and a book on the Civil War: Buttons & Roads & Pork n' Beans.

He is survived by his wife Cheryl, his son McKinley (Jaclyn Ratkowski), his grandson Freddie all of Kewadin, Michigan. Two nephews, several cousins, an aunt, and a brother-in-law also survive him.

He is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, his sister-in-law, several aunts and uncles, and two cousins.

Cheryl and McKinley have chosen to privately scatter his ashes at Lake Eufaula and other sites in Oklahoma as well as in Colorado and New Mexico where he spent so many wonderful days hunting, fishing, hiking, and exploring.

If you wish to make a memorial contribution, please consider the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 or a charity of your choosing.