LAWSON

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Laura “Joan” Lawson of Rimbey, Alberta.  Joan passed away at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the age of 96 years.

Joan was born in Lacombe, Alberta on July 10, 1930, the only daughter of Archie and Laura Stout.  She spent her first six years on a farm west of Lacombe.  In May of 1937, the family moved to their farm in the Lavesta District. 

Joan attended the Spruceville School for Grade 1, the Lavesta School for Grades 2 to 10, the Lacombe High School for Grade 11, and the Rimbey High School for Grade 12.  She had hoped  to train as a nurse after finishing school; however, she was too young to enroll in nursing school.  So when Joan was offered a job supervising students at the Willesden Green School, she accepted.  This was the start of a long and successful teaching career. 

Joan attended the University of Alberta for one year and began teaching at the Fuller School (1950–51).   After the Fuller School closed, her next job was at the Mount View School (1951–56), where she taught until the one-room schools in the county were consolidated.  Joan then moved on to the Bluffton School (1956–87), where she spent many happy years.  While teaching at Bluffton, she went back to the University of Alberta, taking summer school for a number of years to finish her second year of education.  Joan eventually retired as the principal of the Bluffton School.  After retiring, she did not want to leave her teaching life fully behind, so she was a substitute teacher for a time at the Bluffton School.

On November 21, 1953, Joan married Mervyn Lawson.  The lived in a teacherage at the Mount View School until 1956 when they moved to Bluffton, which became their home for the next 67 years.  Many special memories were made at Grandma’s house in Bluffton.  In 2023, Joan moved into the Valley View Manor in Rimbey.

Joan enjoyed gardening, picking berries, reading, doing needle work, playing cards (especially crib), and working in her puzzle books.  She liked camping and campfires.  Travelling to the Yukon to visit her cousins were some of Joan’s favourite trips. 

Spending time with her family was also very important to her.  She attended many sporting and special events for her grandchildren.  Every year Joan mailed hundreds of cards, celebrating birthdays, Christmas, Easter, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day, including a personalized letter in each one.  Following her retirement, she spent many years on the Bluffton Hall board and enjoyed morning coffee dates with her friends.

“Joan’s legacy is one of love, generosity, strength, and unwavering devotion to family. 

She touched countless lives and her memory will live on in the hearts of all

who had the privilege of knowing her.”

She will be sadly missed by her loving children:  Bob (Pam) Lawson, Lois (Brian) Terry, Bruce (Beth) Lawson, Stan (Louise) Lawson, and Gerry (Debbie) Lawson.  Joan will also be deeply missed by her grandchildren:  Jeff (Candace), Kelly (Sherry), Laura (Dylan), Rosey (Greg), Tracy (Mark), Steven (Sarah), Kathryn, Kari–Lyn, Craig (Mary), Kelsey (Tyrn), Kevin (Lori), Carla, Justin (Shelby), Rylund (Miranda), Jordie (Amanda), and Bailey (Amber); her great–grandchildren:  Sean, Sarah, Sadie, Nolan, Tehja, Taylor, Reilly, Dawson (Hannah), Max, Jack, Grady, MacKena, Connor, Grace, Kiara, Kalina, Aylish, Noelle, Solveig, Cora, Cohen, Keegan, Katie, Kaleb, Broox, Scarlett, Leeland, Ellie, Cooper, Scottie, and Marlee; and her great–great–grandchildren:  James, Jesse, and Eveyln. 

She is also survived by her brothers:  Jim Stout, Ted (Grace) Stout, and Roy (Pat) Stout; her sisters–in–law:  Janet Stout, Nora Lawson, and Linda Lawson; along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends. 

Joan was predeceased by her husband, Mervyn Lawson; her brothers:  Tom and Gene Stout; as well as her sisters– and brothers–in–law:  Pearl Stout, Jim (Phyllis) Lawson, Myrtle (Ernie) Repas, Mary May (Herb) Bauer, Velma (Stan) Farnham, Lyle (Betty) Lawson, Arthur (Charlotte) Lawson, Johnny Lawson, Ava Raadik, and Gordon Adrian.

A Funeral Service in Celebration of Joan’s Life will be held at the Rimbey United Church, 4931 – 51 Avenue, Rimbey on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with the Reverend Ray Goodship officiating.  Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the West Haven Cemetery, Rimbey.

If desired, memorial donations in Joan’s memory may be made directly to Rimbey Community Home Help Services, Box 404, Rimbey, Alberta  T0C 2J0 (https://rchhs.com/).  Thoughts and messages to the family may be shared through the condolence area located at the bottom of this page. 

Service and Burial Arrangements for the late Laura “Joan” Lawson entrusted to the care of