- Date Of Birth: May 29, 1936
- Date Of Death: January 22, 2021
- State: Michigan
Beverly Elaine Lawton, 84, of Three Oaks, died peacefully Friday, January 22, 2021, in the comfort of her husband and children’s presence, in Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. She passed as a result of complications arising from a seizure and stroke.
She was born May 29, 1936 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Herbert and Marjorie Schelb. She married George W. Lawton on August 3, 1958 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They enjoyed may adventures in their sixty-three-year marriage.
Beverly graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1954 and attended Albion College. She worked at Shakespeare Company after leaving college.
Beverly was devoted to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to the institutions that represented him here on earth. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, most recently at Lakeside United Methodist Church where her husband George was pastor. She served as a leader and worked in many organizations. For many years she served as a Secretary of the Harbor Country Emergency Food Pantry Board and was a district and conference officer of United Methodist Women. She was a local and state officer of Church Women United where she enjoyed friendships with women from all walks of life.
Beverly was widely known for her smile and friendliness to all people. Some of her favorite relationships involved women with special needs. She loved to teach. One of her joyful memories was leading a preschool at St. Paul’s UMC in Lawton, Michigan. For many years, she volunteered at the Gathering Thrift Shop in Three Oaks.
She will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by her beloved husband, George W. Lawton of Three Oaks; daughter, Kathleen (Bruce) Owen of Coloma; sons, Geoffrey (Joan) Lawton of Rockford, Gregory Lawton of Jackson, Gerald (Trina) Lawton of Flint; one son in law, Tim Haney of Holland; eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren; sisters, Evelyn (Terry) Taylor of Denver, Colorado, Laurie (Ronald) Doering of Battle Ground, Washington; one brother, Kenneth (Linda) Schelb; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and one daughter, Marjorie Haney.
