LAWSON, Gordon Walter Born February 15, 1924, died March 30, 2018 surrounded by his family. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Margaret "Peggy" (Ross), his brother Melbourne (Barbara), and his sister Norma (Bob Chamberlin). He leaves behind his son Peter (Winnie Doyle) and daughters Alex and Kelly and granddaughter Meghan (Chris Daw). Gord lived for most of his life in Hamilton, a city he loved and knew intimately. He was raised on Delaware Avenue, and attended Adelaide Hoodless Public School and Central High School. After high school he attended McMaster University where he met his future bride, Peggy Ross. Gord's studies were interrupted by war, and in 1942 he left university to join the RCAF.
After the War, Gord resumed his studies, this time at the University of Toronto, before returning to Hamilton to marry Peggy and begin raising a family. Gord was a successful businessman. He spent his working life in the lumber business, and together with his father, Charles, and his brother, Mel, he helped build Lawson Lumber into a well-known part of Hamilton's business life. But while Gord enjoyed business, his passion was sports. He loved to watch it; he loved to talk about it; but most of all he loved to play it - and he played it well. From neighbourhood games of football and baseball with the "Boulevard Boys" he progressed to interscholastic sports at Central High, McMaster and U of T. Even the War was only a minor impediment, because he was able to play football for the RCAF team. After the War, and his return to Hamilton, he played football for the Hamilton Wildcats. There, not for the first time, he played receiver to his brother Mel, as quarterback. Finally, in 1950, Gord joined the newly-formed Tiger Cats. Even after he stopped playing, Gord remained active, serving for years on the Tiger Cats' Board of Directors and as a Schenley Trustee.
Apart from his support for Hamilton sports, Gord was active as a volunteer in a variety of areas. Most notably he served on the Board of Directors of the Hamilton Civic Hospitals, ultimately becoming Chair. The real focus of Gord's life was his family. He and Peggy shared a passion for sports (especially golf and tennis) and for travel. Peggy's death, in 2011, was a difficult blow for Gord, and one from which he never fully recovered. Throughout his life he was an unqualified supporter of his children, and his granddaughter Meghan. In his last years the one topic of conversation which could be guaranteed to prompt a smile in Gord was Meghan. Gord was a devoted husband, a generous parent and grandparent, and a loyal friend. Most of all, in the words of one of his long-time friends, he was "one of the world's few true gentlemen".
A celebration of Gord's life will be held at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club on April 13th at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Royal Botanical Gardens.