Christopher Mike Dawson

Mike was born on August 25, 1951, to Dwain D. and Marilyn Jo Dawson. They preceded him in death.

Mike is survived by his wife, Mary Alice Graves Dawson, and their four children: Amanda Dawson Di Martino (Francesco) of Washington, DC; Dwain David Dawson (Katrina) of Indianapolis; Mary Elizabeth Dawson (Alan Cain) of Thornton, CO; and Jonathan David Dawson (Alexandria) of Indianapolis. He was the loving Poppy to his grandchildren: Milo, Molly, Ben, and Luke Dawson, and Taylor and Adam Cain. Mike’s brother, Robert Dawson (Meg Easter-Dawson) of Santa Rosa, CA, and sister, Mary Jo Dawson of Indianapolis, survive.

Mike graduated from North Central High School in 1969 before attending Transylvania University, where he earned a BA degree in Education. There, he met Mary Alice. They married on May 31, 1974. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends. The celebration was a joyous testament to the home of love and happiness they built together.

Mike will be remembered first and foremost as a dedicated husband and father. He was an avid golfer, and, in colder weather, he stayed active on his neighborhood pickleball courts. Mike was the charismatic center of any room, a storyteller, the embodiment of his favorite adage: “It doesn’t cost a dime to be nice to people.” He reminisced often about his days working at D.D. Dawson & Company, Inc., his family business. Since retiring, Mike spent time traveling and enjoyed having more time on the golf course. He had frequent lunches with friends. He treasured the dinners with his grandchildren where there was, of course, always enough time for a dessert of two scoops of strawberry ice cream or a trip to Snow Shack.

In a recent letter to his grandson, Mike wrote that he had been having “a tough year” and acknowledged the ups and downs that come with a prolonged illness. However, Mike assured his grandson, “I feel better because I know you love me.”

Although Mike’s passing ushers in an immense grief for his family and friends, we are better because we know he loved us. We are thankful for Mike, and we will follow his advice: “It will be what we make it. Let’s make it fun.”

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke Catholic Church on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. A Celebration of Life for Mike Dawson will immediately follow at Meridian Hills Country Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Mike to the St. Luke Catholic School CYO Athletic Fund or Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.