Mary Ellen Lawson

Mary Ellen (Shea) Lawson, age 92 passed away on Nov. 4, 2026. Mary Ellen was born on a small farm near Sterling, NE, on Nov. 16, 1933, to Eva Eleanor (Ella) (Heintzelman) Shea and Timothy M. Shea. Mary Ellen was baptized and confirmed at St. Martins Catholic Church in Douglas NE. Mary Ellen attended a country K-8 school and graduated from Sterling High in May of 1951. Post high school she took classes at Peru College and began teaching at Hauck K-8 School where she taught for three years. She kept in touch with some of her students throughout the years. On Jan. 14, 1955, she married James (Jim) Dale Lawson at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Douglas. When Jim joined the Army, they moved to Washington DC and later Buckroe Beach, VA, where Mary Ellen taught second grade at Phoebus Public School. Her daughter, Debra (Lawson) Burner, was born in VA. Upon Jim’s discharge from the Army in 1958, they moved back to Lincoln, NE, where her son, Douglas Lawson, was born.

Mary Ellen’s greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother. She worked and played hard all of her life! While her children were young, she worked at Russell Stover’s Candy Factory. Later she worked at various retail stores. She retired from a law firm at 70 years old. Mary enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, sporting events, camping, boating and even though she couldn’t swim she learned to waterski. She had a strong faith and a humble servant’s heart. She volunteered many hours at Sacred Heart Church. There she initially helped clean the church and later oversaw the cleaning crew. She served as Secretary of the Altar Society for 10 years, all the while enjoying her many dear church friends. She was our little angel on earth, the rock of our family. We are thankful for all she taught us by the way she lived, the people she generously helped and the way she loved each of us unconditionally. She will be deeply missed by all of us! Let’s continue her legacy by loving God and accepting and serving all people.

Mary Ellen is survived by her two children, Debra (Paul) Burner, Douglas Lawson; three grandchildren, Jamie (Mike) Schobey, Kyle (Andie) Burner, Cory (Elli) Eastin; and seven great grandchildren, Kadence, Brielle, and Jaxon Schobey; Berklee and Jameson Burner; and Brooks and Jacob Eastin. She is also survived by her brother, Lloyd Shea; sister Millie (Ron) Rathbun; many beloved nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors and our lifelong family friend, Renee-Lyons Stephenson. We would like to thank Renee, dear neighbors, friends, family, Eventide Hospice and all who helped us care for her.

She is preceded in death by her parents Timothy and Ella Shea; her husband, James Lawson; and her brother Merle Shea; and sister-in-law, Marjorie Shea.

Visitation at Lincoln Memorial 6800 So. 14th Street, with the family on Sunday, November 8 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, followed by a Rosary at 7:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3128 S. Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, on November 9, 2026, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers consider helping out a person in need, donating to Sacred Heart Church, Catholic Social Services, Lincoln Food Bank, or Lincoln City Mission.