Billy E. Lawson, 88, of Center, passed away Friday, August 30, 2019, at Pine Grove Nursing Center, with family.

A visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, September 3rd at Watson and Sons Funeral Home in Center, Texas.  Funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M. with Brother Carl Smith, Brother Bobby Bressman, and Manuel Arcibar officiating.  Interment will follow at Antioch Cemetery in the James/Antioch Community. 

Mr. Lawson was born January 25, 1931, at his family’s new home in the Antioch Community.  He is the son of the late Hobson Lawson and Lela Jones Lawson. After attending Center High School, he served his country during the Korean Conflict.  During this time, while stationed at Fort Hood, he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Lawson. They were married for 58 years until her death in 2010.

After leaving the service, he and his new bride moved to the Coast and was employed by Dow Chemical and later came back to Shelby County.  He was employed by Bruce Hardwood Floors, later bought out by Armstrong, as a supervisor over 3 departments. He retired after 40 years of service.  He also was a cattle rancher.

Mr. Lawson was the father of three daughters, Debra, Luciana, and Sherry.  He and his family are members at First Baptist Church, Center in which his grandfather was one of it’s founders.  He loved God and he loved family.

Family survivors include daughters, Debra Lawson Yarbrough, Luciana Lawson Barr and husband Charles, and Sherry Lawson; grandchildren, Cade Yarbrough and wife Traci, Nathan Yarbrough, and Blake Barr and wife Alix; great grandchildren, Cole Yarbrough, Mallory Yarbrough, Dillon Yarbrough, Charles Brent Barr, Kennedi Barr, and Braylon James Barr; sister, Ruby Lawson Hughes; sisters-in-law, Wynell Lawson, Leona Lawson, Nadine Lawson, and Clydia Lawson; brother-in-law, Randy Andrews; former son-in-law, Bruce Yarbrough; and a host of nephews, nieces and friends.

Mr. Lawson was preceded in death by his parents, Hobson Lawson and Lela Jones Lawson; wife, Jean Andrews Lawson; grandson, Charles Brent Barr; brothers, Joel, Glenn, Happy, Forriest, and Tommy; sisters, Oleta Lawson Cockrell, Mildred Lawson Partlow, and Judy Lawson Carrington; sister-in-law, Sally Windham Lawson; brothers-in-law, Charles Paul Hughes, James (Bud) Andrews, Darrell Partlow, and Ernest Carrington; and mother and father-in-law, James J. Andrews and Iva Mac Ogden Andrews.

Pallbearers will be Cade Yarbrough, Nathan Yarbrough, Blake Barr, Johnny Barr, Steve Barr, and Larry Horn.

The family request in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Antioch Cemetery Fund c/o Lenora Walton, 237 CR 3129, Center, Texas 75935.

The family would like to extend their thanks to Pine Grove Nursing Center and staff for their love and care and Affinity Hospice.  Special thanks to caregiver, Charlotte Garrett.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com