Audrey Anne Lawton, 85, of Cabot, AR, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Friday, October 27th, 2017. She was born on August 17th, 1932 in Seattle, Washington to the late Ray and Emma (Kilthau) Bishop.
She is preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Tommy Durden.
Survivors include her husband, Kennison Lawton; two sons, Asa (Dani) Lawton of Oklahoma and Timothy (Renee) Lawton of Alabama; two daughters, Susan Southerland of Alabama and Sara (Ed) Manis of Arkansas; one sister, Coralie Durden; five brothers; Jonathan (Alice) Bishop, David (Jeannie) Bishop, Andrew (Bev) Bishop, Joseph (Mary) Bishop, Paul (Marion) Bishop; twelve grandchildren; Todd Southerland, Brian Lawton, Micah Southerland, Eric Lawton, Scott Lawton, Jana (Lawton) Wheeler, Joshua Manis, Esther (Lawton) Hecker, Caleb Manis, Elisabeth Manis, Seth Manis, and Mary (Manis) Davis; fifteen great-grandchildren and many loving friends.
Audrey moved from Washington State to Oklahoma City to attend Nurse’s Training at Deaconess Hospital. She met Kennison at the Free Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, OK and after a short engagement they were married in Quincy, Washington on September 26th, 1952. They recently celebrated a rare milestone of 65 years of marriage.
Audrey was a very supportive pastor’s wife and was always reaching out to those in need. She was the parsonage queen at ten Bible Missionary Church parsonages; Walla Walla, WA, Chandler, OK, Ferridy, LA, Goderich, Ontario, Canada, Little Rock, AR, St. Albans, WV, Sumner, WA, Bethany, OK, Deer Creek, OK, and Jasper, AL.
She carried her children and grandchildren to the place of prayer on a daily basis and was constantly concerned about their spiritual well-being. She was never too busy to provide a listening ear to burdens her family and friends carried. She could be counted on for wise advice and Godly counsel. She lived a life fully devoted to her Lord and exemplified the sanctified life.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 29, from 2-4 PM at Thomas Funeral Service in Cabot, AR, and again on October 31, 2017, from 6-8 PM at Collins Burke Funeral Home in Jasper, AL. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 10 AM at Collins Burke Funeral Home in Jasper, Alabama with Rev. Jon Bishop officiating and Rev. J.C. Bishop assisting. Interment will follow at Walker Memory Gardens.
