Fred R. Lawson went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 18, 2010 after celebrating sixty-eight years of marriage with his true love, Mary Frances Odom, only two weeks earlier. They shared a wonderful life of faith, family, ministry and education from the moment they met. Fred was born September 22, 1921 to Sargent Wisdom and Pearl Esther Lawson in Dallas, Texas. As a depression era child, he learned the value of hard work, thriftiness and the value of family. Faith and family were primary in Freds life but he also had the heart to be a life-long champion for education. From the cotton fields of North Texas to the academic halls of Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, Fred was constantly learning or teaching and often doing both. Fred graduated from Geraldine High in 1939 with a small valedictorian scholarship that provided enough money to study one semester at the University of North Texas. He managed his time and money to complete his bachelor degree in 1947 after interrupting his college courses to proudly serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WW II. He began his career as a junior high school teacher in the Oklahoma City Public Schools. He served as vice principal of Roosevelt Junior High School and then teacher and guidance counselor at Harding High School. Throughout this phase of his career he continued to pursue his own education and was granted an Ed.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1961. He was a pioneer in the development of Guidance and Counseling programs and helped start the Guidance Division in the Oklahoma State Department of Education. After five years, he left to eventually lead the Teacher Education Department at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and finished his higher education career as Academic Dean at Northwestern. Fred continued to love teaching and he phased into retirement by serving a couple of years as elementary school principal at Okeene. Even in his full retirement years, Fred continued to serve and teach as a volunteer in the Mission Service Corps of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He and Frances traveled the nation for thirteen years giving encouragement and counseling to other Mission Service Corps volunteers in their service to the Lord and His Church. Freds faith was evident in all he did but he strengthened his knowledge and demonstrated his commitment by serving in many leadership roles of Baptist Churches in all the communities in which he lived. These same communities witnessed and benefited from his principles and character by the many civic and professional organizations in which he led and served. He served in national organizations and teams intent on providing quality education to future teachers. Fred became a board member and eventually board president of Camp Copass, a Southern Baptist camp and retreat center near Denton, Texas. This camp, on Lewisville Lake, began as a summer youth camp facility but has now grown to include adult retreats and Christian conferences in year round programs. This Christian retreat center offers opportunity each year for hundreds of lives to be touched by God. Fred is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Odom, a sister, Bonnie Hambright of Iowa Park, Texas and three sons: Russell Lawson, and wife Sherry, of Oklahoma City; Ron Lawson, and wife Elaine, of Lawrenceville, GA; and Rick Lawson, and wife Vickie, of Melbourne Beach, FL. Also, surviving Fred are twelve grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Fred and Frances found new friends at Baptist Village in Oklahoma City. The staff and residents loved and cared for Fred during his last days on earth and continue to comfort and console Frances. Their work and lives demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways that Freds family appreciate and admire. Viewing will be available Sunday, March 21, 2010 between the hours of noon and 9 p.m. at Mercer-Adams, 3925 N. Asbury, Bethany. Family will be available there to greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Services will be held on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of the Cross at Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur, Oklahoma City with interment in Gracelawn Cemetery, Edmond, OK. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Copass, 8200 East McKinney St., Denton, Texas 76208.