Ivan Ray Lawson

Ivan Ray Lawson

12 December 1946 – 26 November 2025

Ivan passed away peacefully two weeks before his 79th birthday, after ten years of suffering with COPD. He was born in Stephenville, Texas to William Otho Lawson and Robbie Bell (Neal) Lawson. Ivan spent 20 years in the Army, starting his Army career in the Vietnam War and retiring at Fort Huachuca, AZ as a Sergeant First Class in December 1985. He PCS’d to Fort Huachuca in early 1984 where he met his future wife and love of his life JoAnn Crane in September 1984. He spent the next 25 years working at Fort Huachuca for the contract engineers as a Boiler Tender and HVAC Mechanic. He fully retired in June 2011.

Ivan was a wonderful husband, amazing father and grandfather. He loved his family with his whole heart and was very proud of his sons. He attended every football, basketball and baseball game, and was an assistant baseball coach for one year. He drove the family all over the state for every away football, basketball and baseball games during Josh’s high school as well as in and out of state for every one of his college football games. He was all in 150% when it came to the boys’ sports and they never wanted for anything they needed to play those sports. Ivan himself was a true, amazing athlete from a very young age. Growing up in the Boys Club after school every day, he mastered ping pong, pool, basketball, baseball and football. He won many championships, and his baseball team went to State in his early teens. Ivan played high school basketball and All-Army Softball while stationed in Germany. He played softball with the Doobies for many years in Sierra Vista. He also learned to play golf with his father-in-law Ray in the 80s and after his full retirement he played 3-4 times a week at the Turquoise Valley Golf Course in Naco until his COPD forced him to stop playing.

Ivan is survived by his wife of 39 years and best friend for 41 years, JoAnn; his children Shane Ray, Joshua Ray (Alycia) and Jeremy Ivan (Chelsea) Lawson; and three grandchildren Angel Ray, Palmer Rae and Everett Paul Lawson; his sister Dorthy Huff (Bobby Jones); brother-in-law Glenn Crane (Helen Lacey); sister-in-law Angelika Figueroa; sister-in-law Linda Quast Crane; and many nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ferrill and Pete Lawson; sister Mary Jo Robinson; sister-in-law Linda Lawson; mother and father-in-law Ursula (Liehr) and Maynard Ray Crane; brother-in-law Ray Crane; sister-in-law Pam Lee; and many nephews and nieces.

I will miss you always my love (honey bunny) and so thankful for the 41 beautiful years you shared with me and the beautiful and amazing sons that you gave me. Your sons and daughters-in-law will love you always and are so grateful for the amazing lives that you gave and shared with them. Your grandchildren are very young and may not remember you, but we will help them to know you and your love for them.

Please join us Monday, December 8th at Hatfield Funeral Home, 830 Hwy 92. Viewing will be from 10:00-11:00; Service and Internment at 12:00 at the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1300 S. Buffalo Soldier Trail. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.

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