M. Joanne Lawyer's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Mary Joanne Lawyer, age 88 of Charleston, entered her Heavenly Home on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 while at the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home in Mattoon. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. The Funeral Service, honoring and celebrating her life will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Scott Sims officiating. Burial will follow in Mound Cemetery - Charleston. Donations in her honor may be made to a charity of the donor's preference and gifts may be left at the visitation/service or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920. Joanne was born August 8, 1930 in Coles County, Illinois, the daughter of Floyd and Harriett (Shafer) Adair. She graduated from Charleston High School in 1948 with high honors and on Thanksgiving Day of that same year she married the love of her life. Joanne and Orville Lawyer were married November 25, 1948 at the Christian Church in Charleston in a simple ceremony with only family in attendance. It was a love and marriage that endured sixty-one years prior to Orville's death on February 5, 2010. Joanne's children are blessed with memories of a loving and devoted mother, Alan Lawyer and wife Kim of Effingham, Illinois, Jeffrey Lawyer and wife Sandra of Oro Valley, Arizona, Gregory Lawyer and wife Kathy of Mattoon, Steven Lawyer and wife Anne of Chatham, Illinois and Cathryn Gordon and husband Terry of Charleston. Also left to cherish their many loving memories are her six grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. The last of her siblings, Jack Adair of Charleston and Nancy Lawson of Menifee, California; sisters-in-law, Lelia Adair and Carol Adair, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families also survive. She was preceded in death by a son, Mark Lawyer; a daughter, Luanne Lawyer; her six half-sisters, Marian Piersma, Esther Watts, Virginia Scruggs, Barbara June Bell, Jean Carlyle and A. Lorraine Kass; one half-brother, Richard Adair; and two sets of twin brothers, Jerry and Gerry Adair and John and Joe Adair. Joanne was a member of University Baptist Church in Charleston. She possessed strong family values and as a wife and mother her own family always remained her priority and was near and dear to her heart. She worked hard, helping Orville with the farm and taking care of the children. In 1997 Orville and Joanne began a new chapter in their lives as they moved to town leaving the farm and farmhouse they dearly loved, a place where they had invested so many years and so much of their lives. The move was bittersweet, and even though she missed the farmhouse, Joanne soon made their new house a home. Joanne was a woman of faith who was grateful for her many blessings in life and was proud of her children and their many accomplishments. Funeral ServiceThe funeral service honoring and celebrating Joanne's life was held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at Adams Funeral Chapel with Pastor Scott Sims officiating. Pianist, Ruth Ann Craig, accompanied Mrs. Kim Stewart who sang ""Evening Prayer"" and ""It Is Well With My Soul"". Additional favorite musical selections of Joanne's were played during the prelude and postlude including ""I'll Fly Away"". Burial followed in Mound Cemetery - Charleston. Serving as pallbearers were: John Higar, Alan Lawyer, Steve Lawyer, Greg Lawyer, Jeff Lawyer and David Lawson. Honorary pallbearer was Jack Adair. Visitation Adams Funeral Chapel Saturday, June 29, 2019 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Email Details 2330 SHAWNEE DRCHARLESTON, Illinois 61920 Directions Funeral Service Adams Funeral Chapel Saturday, June 29, 2019 1:00 PM Email Details 2330 SHAWNEE DRCHARLESTON, Illinois 61920 Directions
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