Eugene Clifton Lawson

Eugene was born November 29, 1932 and raised in Dallas, Texas where his parents Cleo and Mary Lawson worked in the textile industry. He had one older sister, Anita Fae. Cleo and Mary were strong believers in Christ and raised Nita Fae and Eugene in the Baptist church.

Eugene was drafted into the Army in 1950 during the Korean War and served a little over two years in France and then in Korea during the reconstruction. He was assigned to the motor pool as a diesel and wheel mechanic. One day while working on a large truck transmission, his finger was caught in one of the moving parts and was instantly cut off at the knuckle. He kept his finger in a jar on the shelf of his locker until he was ready to part with it. It was not until just recently that he told his family the real story of how he lost his finger. He told all the children that asked about it that, “he was picking his nose one day, and a buggar bit it off.” The military gave him $5 for the loss of his finger. He tried several times to appeal the amount and receive more, but the military only valued a little finger at $5 and so he eventually gave up.

Eugene’s parents bought a ranch in Oklahoma, but his dad passed away not long after they purchased it. He would go up there to help his mom with the cattle and other chores. He would speak of his time on the ranch with great fondness. You could tell he really enjoyed it.

Eugene worked as a truck driver, driving for Red Arrow Freight Liner for many years. He drove 18-wheelers primarily around the Dallas area until he retired.

Eugene married Mary Darnell and they took many trips to Gulf Shores, Alabama where they visited her large family. They had two children Bruce and Wendy. Bruce played football at Texas A&M and Eugene would drive to College Station each weekend to watch the games. After 29 years of marriage, Eugene and Mary divorced and he married Peggy Jones. They lived in Irving until her death.

Eugene’s daughter Wendy lives in Farmers Branch and has 2 children, Justin and Heather. Justin is married to Emily and they have a daughter, Kynslee and a son, Cason. Eugene’s son, Bruce is married to Peggy Dowdy and they live in Missouri City. Bruce and Peggy have a ranch in Paradise, Texas and Eugene loved to visit and see the deer and cows. He called it the Ponderosa. Bruce and Peggy have two sons, Zac and Corbin. Zac is married to Becky, they have two boys, Gentry and Cutler, and they live in Paradise on a ranch. Eugene has had several dogs that he has loved. Fifi a black poodle, CisCi a black Labrador and Molly a chocolate Lab, who now lives with Wendy.