Ann Louise Lawton, 61, passed away Tuesday, December 23, at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson after a long illness.
Ann was born at Greene County Medical Center on May 27, 1959. She was the daughter of the late Gerald and Dorothy (Dot) Lawton of Cooper. Ann graduated from Jefferson Community High School in 1978. She attended Kirkwood Community College, receiving an associates degree in education careers in 1983.
Ann lived and worked in Cedar Rapids for over 30 years. She had a special gift of helping the elderly and children. She worked as a CNA for Cedar Rapids Area Senior Living Centers. She loved working with the senior population and had a way to bring a smile to their faces and brighten their days. Ann then served the Cedar Rapids Community School District for many years as a para-professional for pre-school and elementary children with special needs. She spent hours finding just the right craft activity for the kids and cared for the kids as her own. She always had a second job and worked at Wal-Mart in Cedar Rapids in the electronics department. She was a hard worker and took pride in all her work.
Ann’s time in Cedar Rapids was treasured by her maternal grandparents, Cyril and Luella Boddicker. She offered our family much comfort in knowing that Ann was able to spend hours with Grandpa Boddicker watching his treasured Chicago Cubs. After they passed, Ann returned to central Iowa to be near family.
When she returned to this area, she worked for the Panorama School District as a para-professional and traveled to Grimes to work at Wal-Mart for a short time.
Ann was very creative in anything she touched. Creative writing, cake decorating, and other crafts kept Ann on the go. She refinished a beautiful antique ice chest that was treasured by her mother and the entire family.
Throughout the years Ann was always doing crafts and is most remembered for her yarn Santa Claus decorations and making “Reindeer Food” each Christmas for all the young children she knew, family and friends. Her nieces and nephews were very special to her, so she loved her given nickname, Uncle Buck, as she was never the typical “Aunt”. Ann was the ultimate people person with a wonderful sense of humor. She never knew a stranger and always treated them as family and friends.
Ann treasured her childhood pet poodle Kung Fu and all the other family farm dogs. Because of that, memorials may be directed to Greene County animal shelter fund.
Ann is survived by her brothers Doug (Karen) of Cooper, Ron (Jane) of Jefferson, and Todd (Amy) of Dallas Center; sister, Karin Lawton-Dunn of Grimes; nieces and nephews Kati (Will) Nailor of Indianola, Diana (Justin) Towers of Jefferson, Lance Lawton of Waukee, Crystal Lawton & Curtis Carstens of Jefferson, Autumn (Reed) Larson of Jefferson, Drew Lawton of Chicago, IL, Nic Lawton of Dallas Center,and Ethan, Bridget, and Kylie Dunn of Grimes; eight great-nieces and nephews; family, and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Gerald and Dorothy Lawton.
Due to COVID-19, visitation will be Dec. 28 from 11 am – 6 pm at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson (no family will be present). A private family graveside service will be held Dec. 29 at the Franklin Township Cemetery near Cooper, beside her parents..
