Margery Mae Lawson

November 14, 1925 - March 18, 2014

Born November 14, 1925 to Marcella Belle (Hamilton) and Herbert Franklin Harrington in Nampa, ID. At the age of four, Margery moved with her family to Fairfield, CT. Her parents owned a childrens’ summer camp in Fairfield called Camp Acoma. Every summer until after her marriage, she worked there as cook, counselor, stable hand, lifeguard, archery instructor, tennis coach, and nurse. These camp skills served her well all her life, making her physically active and well equipped to tackle many aspects of life. In 1939, Margery was the Connecticut State Junior Archery Champion. Her swimming skills were utilized during the war. While attending the University of Michigan (U of M) she taught U.S. soldiers how to swim and the method to jump off a ship in full battle equipment, in the pool of the Athletic Building, before they were shipped out to Europe. Her wonderful skills as a teacher were honed at Camp Acoma.

While at U of M, Margery met and married Harold J. Lawson, her husband for 34 years. They raised their family in Harold’s home town of Royal Oak, MI. Their union produced four children, Kathleen Stevenson (David) of Dexter, MI; Pamela Lawson (James Dunford) of Los Altos, CA; Bruce (Stacey) Lawson of Manassas, VA; and Susan Wald (Phil) of Pleasanton, CA. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Hilary Stevenson, Grace and Marshall Dunford, and Jacob Wald, in addition to her brother, Herbert Harrington Jr. (Doris) of Fairfield, CT, brother-in-law Raymond G. Lawson (Betty) of Troy, MI, and many nieces and nephews. Margery loved to tell stories. Her favorite stories were of teaching in a one-room school house in Pittsfield Village, MI after the WWII. She adored that experience and all her students, in spite of her five mile commute on foot, on the milk truck, or bicycle, once she and Hal had saved enough to buy one. Considered to be of historical importance, that school house now resides on Eastern Michigan University campus. Margery also taught Special Education classes and spent many years teaching GED in Detroit, where she had to recruit her students and then find creative means of engaging them. She applied and won grants from Toyota, J.C. Penny, and other organizations to purchase equipment and supplies not available through Detroit Public Schools. Margery was so proud of every student who graduated from the Detroit GED program. She attended every graduation.

Margery also taught English as a Second Language in the evenings through Royal Oak Public Schools. This stimulated her interest in other cultures and led her to spend time in South America where she studied Spanish. Speaking Spanish with the many exchange students who visited and lived at her home over the years brought her much joy. During these years, she worked as a “Foster Mom” for Youth for Understanding, and other organizations. She taught her four children many skills including shooting with a bow and arrow, encouraged them in sports, along with instilling a deep love of reading. Others benefitted from her many skills. Classes taught by Margery at the YWCA were always popular. These included gift wrapping, decoupage, paper tole, silk screening, cake decorating, and bottle gardening. She was a Girl Scout Leader for many years, and she could never resist a good campfire song! Later in life, she became a Master Gardener. She was a member of the Royal Oak Garden Club, the Detroit Storytellers’ Club, and the First United Methodist Church of Royal Oak. Margery was creative, generous and worked hard to improve others’ lives. She continued that legacy even after her death by donating her body to the University of Michigan Medical School. A memorial service for Margery will be held in June in Royal Oak, Michigan. If you would like to make a donation in Margery’s honor, we suggest: The Heifer Project at http://www.heifer.org/ or First United Methodist Church

320 W. Seventh St., Royal Oak, MI 48067 USA Telephone: (248) 541-4100 E-mail: [email protected]

Arrangements under the direction of Hosmer-Muehlig Funeral Chapel, Dexter, MI.