Remembering James William Lawson

Passed peacefully at Spencer House in Orillia on April 15, 2025. He had been living there for the last three years and was in his 85th year. The fine and caring treatment he received in the home was a blessing to us all and I know my dad was in good hands. His wife, Elaine and sister Bev were very sweet and visited with him often. My brother Andy would visit him several times a week and he was a real rock for our dad. I would also come up to visit him when I could.

My dad was active in sports and loved more than anything to watch the Blue Jays play a game. He was a high school French teacher in Orillia for most of this career and from what I’ve heard over the years from some of his students, a pretty good one. Dad was also an avid country music fan and he and Elaine would love to dance. He also loved to travel to warm destinations in the winter.

My dad was by no means perfect and he would be the first to tell you that. He did, however, have an abundance of love in his heart. He loved people and had many great friends. Also, very apparent was his love of animals and I’ll never forget when I was 8 or 9, he was buying a black lab and my brother and I couldn’t decide between the two brothers in the litter, and my dad relinquished and bought both of those beautiful dogs!

Jim daddy or Pere as he was affectionately referred to had been living with dementia for the last six years of his life. The last year was especially difficult to watch as he struggled quite a d bit. Now his struggles are over and he is resting peacefully.

He leaves behind his two sons, James and Andy, his very compassionate wife Elaine, her sister Beverly and Elaine’s son Randy and his daughter Michelle. Also, his blessed sister Karen and her husband Don and their children Chris and Jeff and their families. He will also be missed by Helen, the mother of his two sons, and Helen’s brother Andrew Malcolm.

He will be missed by many and like he told his sons he will live on in our memories.

For all that knew my dad, thank you so very much for being a part of his legacy.

A celebration of life will be held at Carson Funeral Homes L. Doolittle Chapel, 54 Coldwater St. E., Orillia on Saturday May 10, 2025 from 2 - 4 P.M. Sharing of memories will begin at 3 P.M.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada through Doolittle Carson Funeral Home.