OBITUARY

Name:   Lela E. (Alexander) Lawson

From:  The Santa Maria Times, Santa Maria, California
Date:  Thursday, January 27, 2005

Lela E. Lawson, 93, died January 24, 2005 in Ventura, CA.

Mrs. Lawson was born Nov. 7, 1911, to Ross and Edna Alexander in Weskan, Kan. She traveled by covered wagon with her mother and grandparents, Samuel and Mattie McCartney, to Baker City, and later to Delta, Colo., where she attended school. On Aug. 19, 1929, she married Carl Lawson in Delta. They lived in California, Colorado, Idaho, Baker City and La Grande before moving to Santa Maria.

They had one daughter, Nadine, their pride and joy. Being the oldest of eleven children, Lela learned to be a caregiver and mentor to her siblings as well as many others. She spent her life giving and serving. She dedicated her life to the Lord when she was very young and served many years in the church. Her last five years were spent in Ventura, California.

Lela was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Carl and her loving daughter, Nadine; four brothers and one sister. She leaves a grand daughter, Carla and her husband John Allen of Camarillo, CA; great-grandson, Chris Allen; great-granddaughter, Jennifer Rezael; three great-great-grandchildren: Miranda, Jakeb, and Dalton Allen; and five sisters: Helen Wilson, Bernadine Nichols, Fern Beck, Mildred Peterson and Lorraine Valentine.

Graveside services to be held on January 27, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. at the Santa Maria Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory.