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Jackie Thomas Lawler

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Jackie Thomas Lawler, son of Woodrow Thomas and Francis Esther Gourley Lawler, was born on Aug. 16, 1942 in St. George. He passed away peacefully, Thursday, April 30, 2020 in Springfield at the age of 77 years, 8 months and 14 days. On Dec. 28, 1960, Jack married the love of his life, Maxona Groce, and the two were happily married for over 59 years. Jack is preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Francis Lawler, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.

He is survived by his loving wife, Maxona, of the home; his twin sister, Judy Cochran and her husband Marvin, of Lebanon; his sister, Bonnie Cowden and her husband Richard, of Lee’s Summit; his brother, Howard Lawler, of Rogersville; two brothers-in-law, Charles Groce, of Bovey, Minn., and A.O. (Butch) Groce and his wife, Brenda, of Lebanon; his sister-in-law, Joyce Lindsey and her husband David, of Austin, Texas; his nieces and nephews, Ann, Elaine, Valerie, Holly, Amy and Alyssa and their families; Ronda, Richard, Anthony and Rachel and their families;  lots of cousins; many caring friends; and his constant companion, Charlie Brown.

Jack was born in St. George, but raised in Jerk Tail and he attended the Coldwater Grade School. Jack professed his faith in Christ at an early age at the New Home Free Will Baptist Church. Jack graduated from Hartville High School in 1960. While he was in high school, he was very big in FFA. He also started dating Maxona, taking her to the junior and senior prom. After he graduated, he joined the Army in October and trained in Ft. Wood and was then sent over seas to Baumholder Germany, but not before marrying Maxona. Jack got out of the Army in October of 1963 and he and Maxona moved to Denver for a couple years. They came back to Hartville in 1965 and Jack started driving a milk truck for Foremost Milk. He then started working for Bergman-Miller Funeral Home and Wholesale Monument. In 1970, Jack and Maxona moved to the farm just north of town and they lived on that farm for 27 years. In 1976, Jack and Maxona bought the Lawler Station and Auto Supply and ran it together until they sold in 1991 to retire. Jack gave out about a million pieces of bubble gum to the kids that came in the store. The Lawler Station was also famous for having the biggest calves raised and the biggest fish caught right there on the concrete floor, all it took was a rainy day. After they sold the station, Jack started hauling cars from Dallas for Doug Crisp. Two years after that, he bought a dump truck and helped build highways and the Stone Ridge Country Club in Branson. He later sold the dump truck and went to work for the Hartville Milling Company until 2002 and then began working full time for the Holman-Howe Funeral Home here in Hartville. He assisted Holman-Howe wherever he was needed, and did so faithfully. In 1996, Jack was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and fought a long hard battle for over 24 years. He took 151 chemotherapy treatments and 97 radiation treatments during his fight. Jack loved his job, but he also loved farming, especially his cattle. In earlier years, Jack enjoyed bird hunting and trap shooting with his friends from around town. He also would go to a fish fry as often as he could with his special friends, M.B. and Vera, Art and Shirley and Jack and Donna. When spring came around, Jack put out a massive garden and helped feed his neighbors and friends with what he produced. He loved to take his friends out to eat to have a good visit and enjoyed their company. Every year, Jack and Maxona would try to get out to Starvy Creek to enjoy the Bluegrass festival. Jack was a faithful supporter of both the Hartville Eagles and his St. Louis Cardinals. It was rare to catch him not watching some sort of baseball in the spring and summer time. Jack faithfully supported the youth of Hartville as much as he possibly could.  He helped with over 1,200 funerals and did his best to help the families who needed it most. Jack was a loving husband, brother, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and dear friend. We celebrate his wonderful life and will always cherish the many happy memories he created. A memorial has been established to Eagle Spirit Scholarship, Hartville Veterans Group or the donors choice and can sent to Holman-Howe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 236, Hartville, Mo. 65667. Services were held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5 at the Hartville Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Darren Widner and the Rev. R.E. Helsley. Musical selections included “Peace in the Valley” as performed by Wade Hightower and Carla Potts with Janet Carriger on the piano. The Calvary Men performed “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and “Celebrate Me Home.” Burial took place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at the Steele Memorial Cemetery in Hartville. Escorts include Don Kincheloe, Jr. Wisdom, Radell Emmerson, Justin Mather, John Miller, Von Kincheloe, Terry Lemons, Brett Eidson, Martin Vernon and Bobby Davis. Police escort was provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the Hartville Police Department. Military honors were provided by the American Legion Post No. 45 and VFW Post No. 3136. Arrangments were under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home in Hartville.