Homer E. Lawson

To "Smiling Jack", the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Jack, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Jack really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

His parents were Eulis and Jewel. Jack was raised in Orange County, California. Even as a child, Jack had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Jack was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Jack managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Jack was raised with five siblings, one older brother, Hollis, two older sisters, Pearl and Jane, a twin brother, Joe and a younger sister, Connie.

All of Jack's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Jack experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in track and in his spare time he liked to go fishing. Jack's memorable achievements included ribbons and awards in track.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Jack was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Jack simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Jack graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1946. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes like shop and math. Jack also set some high school track records.

On June 29, 1946 Jack exchanged wedding vows with Jacqueline Mayola Olson at Assembly of God of Santa Ana, California. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage. Perhaps the reason Jack related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Jack and Jackie were blessed with four children, two sons, Gary and Terry, two daughters, Linda and Sharon. They were also blessed with eight grandchildren Cindy, David, Keith, Nicole, Ryan, Ashley, Brandon and Jennifer. Jack had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Jack's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Jack had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Jack was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Jack liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Jack was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Jack's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Jack as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was ranching. He was a self-employed rancher.

Jack enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in one particular hobbie, fishing. Jack was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his hobbie with others.

Jack felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Jack loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Jack relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Jack never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Jack played track. Jack was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Top on his list was baseball.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Jack recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member at the Assembely of God Church and during that time, he was a Sunday School Teacher.

Living life in the fast lane suited Jack just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Alaska and Mexico to go fishing.

Jack was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. Two of Jack's favorites were two Golden Labs, Goldie and Lady. They were best friends, he had Goldie 12 years and Lady 10 years. His family was rounded out by his cats, cows, chickens and ducks.

Jack believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2010, Jack took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Jack remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing in the dirt. Even in retirement, Jack continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Jack is survived by his wife Jackie, sons Gary and Terry, daughters Linda(already in heaven) and Sharon, brother Omer, sisters Pearl, Jane and Connie.

Jack brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. "Smiling Jack" lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.