1927
2014
301 East Third Avenue
Ellensburg, Washington
Gene H Lawson Sr was born in Seattle, WA on May 10, 1927 to Lloyd and Blanche Tague Lawson, the youngest of three boys. He spent his childhood in Kittitas where his family lived in the prestigious Milwaukee Rail Road houses. Living next to the train tracks was music to Gene's ears, and he always wanted to grow up and run the trains. After Kittitas High School, he joined the Navy and spent his tour in San Diego. He then returned home and fell in love with Vera (Truhlicka) the cute girl that worked at The Steak House. They married on Valentines Day 1948. In 1950 Gene went to work for The Milwaukee Rail Road, following in his father's footsteps. He started out as a fireman on steam engines and continued when the Milwaukee went electric. He became a locomotive engineer as the Milwaukee changed over to diesel. He worked the Hanford Line from Beverly, with his favorite run being from CleElum to Othello. Gene looked forward to work, calling it more of an adventure than a job. During his 30 year career with the Milwaukee, he took hundreds of photos. Once retired, Gene spent hours organizing and cataloging his extensive photography collection of The Milwaukee Railroad. His photos appeared in Trains Magazine and other print and web based publications. He was a great gardener, back yard orchardist, and took pride in keeping his home and yard looking exceptional.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Vera and three children, Carolyn (Bob) Thompson, Linda (Marvin) Thompson, and Gene (Denise) Lawson Jr. They have five grandchildren, Burton (Jamie) Thompson, Corrin (Chase) Endicott, Rachel Call, Travis Miller and Robin Lawson and three great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, all donation can be made to Cascade Rail Foundation PO Box 462 South CleElum, WA 98943 Online condolences may be left at www.steward-williams.com.
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4 Entries
December 19, 2014
Jim Stewart
My father, Don Stewart, counted Gene as one of his best friends. As a boy, I had the privilege of riding with him in the locomotive on the Milwaukee Road and seeing his slides at his house. He was a great person, trainman and photographer.
December 7, 2014
Eric Hubbard
Gene really loved the railroad. Any Milwaukee event and he would be there. I don't think he ever missed a funeral of any of his fellow railroad workers. I spent many an hour with Gene on the trains. I think he thought being a railroad engineer was like being on a vacation and getting paid for it..
Gene will certainly be missed.
A fellow Milwaukee Road Engineer..
December 4, 2014
David Newcomb
It was a great pleasure knowing Gene. He was warm-hearted and loved sharing his stories of the Milwaukee Road. He was admired by all that knew him and I will miss seeing him at the South Cle Elum Depot – he was so very happy there. David Newcomb Pres. Cascade Rail Foundation
December 4, 2014
Donovan Gray
I first met Gene perhaps 15 years ago when we started working on rehabilitating the Milwaukee railroad depot in South Cle Elum. He and Vera were just tickled pink that a bunch of us "young guys" would care enough for his beloved Milwaukee Railroad to undertake such a task. Ten years and a million dollars later (both cash and in-kind), it was done, and he stood there at the re-dedication with a grin so wide it would wrap itself around the world. He was a terrific man, and they were a terrific couple. I will miss him so much.
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