Mary Ella Lawson, age 93, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at Adair Village in Clinton, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at the Allen Street Baptist Church in Clinton. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service. Burial to follow in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton. The family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Allen Street Church Youth Ministry and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Mary Ella Ferguson Lawson was born on December 16, 1932 in Grundy County, Missouri to Roy and Pauline Ferguson, who has preceded her in death. She married Robert Lawson on February 17, 1951 and they were married for 58 years till his death on November 19, 2009.

Mary worked at United Telephone Company, JC Penney, Clinton Schools and she retired from Wal-Mart, going back later as a well-loved Door Greeter. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt and friend.

She was a Charter Member of Allen Street Baptist Church where she devoted a lot of her time to the youth ministry. She also joyfully served alongside her husband in his role as a Deacon. She was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever she was needed, faithfully supporting the church and its community.

Mary also loved her Lord and Savior, her family, gardening, reading and baking.

She was preceded in death by her husband, 3 children Bryan, Rebecca and Donna, a grandson Matthew and all of her siblings, Paul, Tom, Jarvis, Herbert, Roy Jr., Margaret and Martha.

She is survived by her sons: Michael (Martha) Lawson, Robert (Kathy) Lawson, Brad (Terri) Lawson and Chad Lawson, and her son-in-law Garey Flippin, 10 grandchildren: Justin (Sabrina) Flippin, Jana Flippin, Mitchel (Angie) Lawson, Melinda Lawson Barela, Amanda Lawson Harrill, Alec (Brittany) Lawson, Wyatt Lawson, Chelsea Lawson, Dakota (Lorann) Lawson and Bethany Lawson, 12 great grandchildren: Kaitlyn Flippin, Anna Flippin, Sarah Flippin, Hayden (Sidney) Lawson, Riley Lawson, Chloe Lawson, Owen Harrill, Piper Lawson, Alaina Lawson, Alexa Lawson, Valencia Maupin and Charlotte Lawson, 2 great-great grandchildren: Colter Lawson and Brentleigh Lawson, and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.