H. Clarence Lawson, 96, Jefferson City, passed away Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Jefferson City.
He was born Sept. 3, 1926, to the late Lee and Maude Goans Lawson near Falcon.
He was raised in the Falcon community and received his basic education in grades one through eight in a one-room school house in Laclede County near Falcon and met graduation requirements in three and one half years at Lebanon High School, where he graduated in the Class of 1944. Upon completion of high school requirements in January of 1944, in the midst of World War II, Clarence left high school to work in the U. S. Army Finance office in Tulsa, Okla. and returned to Lebanon in late May to participate in his high school commencement exercises with his classmates.
Clarence was baptized in the Baptist faith at the age of 12 and became a member of New Home Baptist Church near Falcon. He maintained his Baptist faith throughout his life.
Clarence enrolled at Southwest Missouri State Teachers College (now Missouri State University) in Springfield June 15, 1944, where he earned a baccalaureate degree in education and was awarded “with distinction” in 1953 with majors in business and mathematics and also received a life-time certification to teach in both subject areas in secondary schools of Missouri. He attended college only during summer sessions for 10 consecutive years (1944-1953) to obtain a degree while teaching during the same period.
Clarence then attended three summer sessions (1954, 1955 and 1956) at the University of Missouri-Columbia where a Master of Education degree was received in 1957 with a major in school administration.
He enrolled for post-graduate study at George Peabody College for Teachers (now part of Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, Tenn. during the 1957 and 1958 summer sessions. Clarence studied at the three universities a total of fifteen consecutive summer sessions to obtain the two degrees and post-graduate work. Additional post-graduate study in economics was completed at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
He began his career as a teacher at the age of 17 and taught four years in a one-room school covering grades one to eight in Laclede County, near Lebanon. He served as junior high and high school teacher of mathematics and business education, as an assistant principal, then as principal at the Eldon schools for eleven years (1948-1959). He was employed by the Jefferson City Public Schools for 28 years, serving as Director of Elementary Education from 1959-1962, and as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel from 1962 until retiring in 1987, completing 43 years as a teacher and administrator in public schools of Missouri. He also taught evening courses for the Extension Division of Central Missouri State College (now CMSU) at Warrensburg, as well as summer session classes for Lincoln University in Jefferson City. He continued his love of education through the Clarence Lawson Scholarship at Missouri State University.
A career highlight occurred in July of 1986, when the Jefferson City School District named a new building the Clarence Lawson Elementary School where classes were first held at the beginning of the 1987-1988 school year.
While attending SMSU he was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon, an honorary fraternity in mathematics and Pi Omega Pi, a business education honorary fraternity. At the University of Missouri, Clarence was selected for membership in Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary fraternity for graduate students in education. He was a member in education-related associations and service organizations including, National Retired Teachers Association, a member Emeritus of American Association of School Administrators, and was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International.
Clarence enjoyed getting to know waiters, waitresses, and restaurant owners whenever he ate out. In his spare time he enjoyed watching Helias and Central Missouri Volleyball, going to Georgetown Coffee Club with friends, crossword puzzles, coin collecting, and Volkswagon memorabilia including his blue 1973 Superbeetle.
He was a wonderful teacher, administrator and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the memories he made with them during his long lifetime.
Clarence was preceded in death by Lee and Maude; brothers, Milburn, Delbert and Pete; and sisters, Isabel, Ruby and Helen.
He is survived by several nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; many friends who have been appreciated and enjoyed for many years; and an extended family consisting of Keith and Christina Dudenhoeffer, and “special granddaughter”, Ashley Dudenhoeffer, all of Jefferson City.
Visitation will be held Monday, Nov. 28, from 5-7 p.m., at Houser-Millard Funeral Home in Jefferson City. Funeral Service will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City. Interment will follow at Mount Rose Memorial Park in Lebanon.
Arrangements entrusted to Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Lebanon.
