Charlie Lawson Passes

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Published: May 26, 2010 03:42 pm EDT

Well-known horseman Charlie Lawson passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 25, 2010

at the age of 77.

For years, Lawson worked full-time with the Ontario Department of Highway driving graders in the summer and snowplows in the winter. A high-percentage driver on the racetrack, Lawson won over 2,300 races in his career in which he mainly drove part-time at tracks such as Barrie and Orangeville Raceway. In 1976, Lawson was the driver for Kent Baker trainee Jambo Dancer, who was named as Horse of the year by the Ontario Jockey Club.

Beloved husband of Mary; loving father of Kim (Dan Dinnick), Sandra, Tanya, Bill; cherished grandfather of Skeet, Kipp, Katie, James, Reese and Aiden: remembered by his sisters Marjorie Bagnell, Madeline Hall, Bernice Trimble and Greta Parkinson.

Charles will be sadly missed by his other relatives and friends. Memorial donations in memory of Charles may be made to Canadian Cancer Society.

A tree will be planted in memory of Charles in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. A dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 12th, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.

Visitation for Charlie Lawson will be held on Friday, May 28 from 10-11 a.m., with funeral to follow at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home & Chapel, 21 First St., Orangeville, Ont.

Please join SC in offering condolences to the family and friends of Charlie Lawson.

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Comments

On behalf of my family, thank you all for your kind words. As well, thank you to those that were able to attend his service today, it meant alot to my family and I. It is nice to hear reflections by the people behind the sport he was dedicated to for so many years. Thank you!
(ps. Shawna, you may not remember me as I was around 13 at the time but Grand Becky was special)

great memories of the baby trotters.... no one could drive the ARCHIES like Charlie

ANN GRANT Charlie was a great driver but many people , now days Do
not no of the fair circuit of the 50;s When Charlie had younger brother
who was also a very good driver in Borden Lawson..Who died has a young
man Thanks Ann Grant

I had the pleasure of knowing " Lucky Chuck" and paddocked many of his winners while working for Kent Baker.
Charlie was always the first to lend support or encouragement when required, some of my fondest memories of Charlie were with a young OSS trotter owned in part by Charlie by the name of Frosty McKillop with a huge win in the OSS in Garden City.
A true family man and never a bad word was every spoke of the man......a gentleman'.s gentleman.
Rest in peace my friend.....and if there is racing there, I am sure you will be in the charmed circle.

Bill Sharpe

Charlie Lawson, brings back all the memories, of racing at Orangeville, and the old Barrie raceway, where Charlie was one of the best drivers around, RIP Charlie.

All the Mr Lawsons could drive a trotter as good has anyone in the world. Billy in the 40s and his cousin Roy and his son Brian they are all missed by the Orangeville gang, that was history.

I have lost my best friend and distant relative, rest in peace Brian Lawson

In reply to by brian lawson

Sonny Jewitt Mr Lawson was as good as driver as there was and a fine gentlemen . I finished second to Jambo Dancer and Charlie a few times that summer with a horse called Super Glo for Dave Wall almost beat him in the Labatts . I heard some pretty good stories that summer from Charlie and the groom of Jambo Dancer john Gilbert aka Freak. Brings back some good memories . My Condolences to Mr Lawson Family.

Thanks Sonny

PS- Sorry about my capital J only one that will not work.

Summertime Sunday afternoons at Orangeville Raceway were just that much better when Charlie was there. Thanks Charlie and RIP

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