Aileen Janett (French) Lawson
November 19, 1923 — March 2, 2011
Aileen Janett (French) Lawson, a native of Greenwood County, and resident of South Hutchinson, died on March 2, 2011, at Pleasant View Home in Inman, at the age of 87.
She was born on November 19, 1923, the daughter of James Garfield French who later served as Greenwood County Sheriff, and Mamie Janett (Shobe) French of Climax. Aileen attended Climax public schools and was very athletic participating in women’s basketball and softball.
Aileen married Eugene Grundy in 1939, and prior to their divorce in 1950 they had five children. She later married Chase County rancher, George R. “Bob” Byrd, and together they had one daughter. Subsequently, she was married to Lyndon Lawson who preceded her in death.
Aileen was a professional seamstress specializing in wedding attire, sports wear, and children’s clothing and worked many years in other fields including periods at Crawford Manufacturing and Hallmark Cards while she lived near emporia; J.C. Penney’s while she resided in Gallup, New Mexico, during the 1970’s and 1980’s; and So-Fro Fabrics upon returning to Kansas in 1987.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Murray French, and Wesley French; two children, James Grundy and Judith Grundy; and one stepchild, Roberta Byrd Heins.
Aileen is survived by four children and their spouses, Charles and wife, Anne Grundy of Pueblo West, Colorado; Janett and husband, Morris Eidman of Emporia; Peggy and husband, Ray McGeorge of Overland Park; and Patricia Byrd and husband, Ron Scott of South Hutchinson; three stepchildren and their spouses, Marge and husband, Jerry Taylor of Udall; Carol and husband, Don Hall of Emporia; and Jerry and wife, Linda Byrd of Dighton; one brother, Dean and wife, Betty French of Eureka; two sisters Gladys Forcum of Hutchinson; and Mary Ellen Sowder of Toronto; two sisters-in-law, Betty (Ms. Dean French), and Lois (Mrs. Murray French); 10 grandchildren, Jessica Kraft of Howard; Benjamin Grundy of Pueblo, Colorado; Kimberly Grundy of Albuquerque, New Mexico; James Thurston of Lawrence; Randall Carrier of Gardner; Patricia Carrier of Overland Park; Dr. Jennifer Scott Koontz of Newton; Ryan Scott of Omaha, Nebraska; Natalie Scott of Lawrence; and Regan Scott of Manhattan; and great-grandchildren living in Kansas and New Mexico.
Graveside services will be held at 12:00 P.M., Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Greenwood Cemetery, in Eureka with Reverend Annie Moore of The Father’s House officiating. Visitation hours are from 11:00 A.M. to 11:45 A.M., Saturday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Happy Tails Fund at Central Kansas Veterinary Center. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
She was born on November 19, 1923, the daughter of James Garfield French who later served as Greenwood County Sheriff, and Mamie Janett (Shobe) French of Climax. Aileen attended Climax public schools and was very athletic participating in women’s basketball and softball.
Aileen married Eugene Grundy in 1939, and prior to their divorce in 1950 they had five children. She later married Chase County rancher, George R. “Bob” Byrd, and together they had one daughter. Subsequently, she was married to Lyndon Lawson who preceded her in death.
Aileen was a professional seamstress specializing in wedding attire, sports wear, and children’s clothing and worked many years in other fields including periods at Crawford Manufacturing and Hallmark Cards while she lived near emporia; J.C. Penney’s while she resided in Gallup, New Mexico, during the 1970’s and 1980’s; and So-Fro Fabrics upon returning to Kansas in 1987.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Murray French, and Wesley French; two children, James Grundy and Judith Grundy; and one stepchild, Roberta Byrd Heins.
Aileen is survived by four children and their spouses, Charles and wife, Anne Grundy of Pueblo West, Colorado; Janett and husband, Morris Eidman of Emporia; Peggy and husband, Ray McGeorge of Overland Park; and Patricia Byrd and husband, Ron Scott of South Hutchinson; three stepchildren and their spouses, Marge and husband, Jerry Taylor of Udall; Carol and husband, Don Hall of Emporia; and Jerry and wife, Linda Byrd of Dighton; one brother, Dean and wife, Betty French of Eureka; two sisters Gladys Forcum of Hutchinson; and Mary Ellen Sowder of Toronto; two sisters-in-law, Betty (Ms. Dean French), and Lois (Mrs. Murray French); 10 grandchildren, Jessica Kraft of Howard; Benjamin Grundy of Pueblo, Colorado; Kimberly Grundy of Albuquerque, New Mexico; James Thurston of Lawrence; Randall Carrier of Gardner; Patricia Carrier of Overland Park; Dr. Jennifer Scott Koontz of Newton; Ryan Scott of Omaha, Nebraska; Natalie Scott of Lawrence; and Regan Scott of Manhattan; and great-grandchildren living in Kansas and New Mexico.
Graveside services will be held at 12:00 P.M., Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Greenwood Cemetery, in Eureka with Reverend Annie Moore of The Father’s House officiating. Visitation hours are from 11:00 A.M. to 11:45 A.M., Saturday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Happy Tails Fund at Central Kansas Veterinary Center. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which was in charge of service arrangements.
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