Jimmie N. Lawson passed away at his home in McComb Wednesday morning Feb. 27, 2013. He was in the company of his family when he lost his difficult battle with cancer.

Mr. Lawson was born April 17, 1931 in Gillsburg. He is the son of the late Ernest Lawson and Mada Hinson Lawson. He was a career veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served honorably in France, Korea, Germany and Vietnam as well as several stateside assignments.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1972, he moved his family back to Pike County and began a successful commercial refrigeration business. Lawson Refrigeration served Pike County and the Southwest Mississippi region for the next 22 years.

Jimmie Lawson was best known as a quail hunter and raised and trained bird dogs for most of his life. He was known for his well-trained dogs and his shooting skills. He began quail hunting with his father when he was a young boy. He was an avid hunter and traveled extensively across the southern and western states in pursuit of wild quail, grouse and pheasant. He made many friends from all over the United States and his bird dogs have hunted in the piney woods of Mississippi to the sagebrush of West Texas to the cornfields of Iowa and the northern plains of Montana.

Jimmie’s passion for gardening often produced the first tomato of the season in the community. The harvest from his gardens provided the best vegetables found on any southern table year round. His gardening secrets were readily shared with neighbors, family and anyone who asked.

Mr. Lawson was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Ed Lawson, Mervin Lawson, Willie Lawson, and Robert (Tot) Lawson; three sisters, Mrs. George A. (Hilda) McGehee, Mrs. A.P. (Minnie) Gordon, and Mrs. Billy (Eve) Griffin.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jimmie N. (Myrtle) Lawson; two daughters, Patricia Laster of Broomfield, Colo.; Suzan McIntyre of Vidalia, La.; his son, Steve Lawson of Rock Hill, S.C.; and Anita and David Russell of Bogue Chitto. Additional survivors include four sisters, Mrs. D.F. (Hazel) Gordon of Baton Rouge, La.; Mrs. Ruby Norris of Houston; Mrs. Ken (Nita) DeBessonet of Satsuma, La.; and Mrs. Bob (JoAnn) Austin of Baton Rouge, La.; and six grandchildren, Mindy and Corey Laster; Chris and Dillon McIntyre; and David and Clay Russell.

Visitation is Friday, March 1, from 5 until 8 p.m. at Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home in McComb and resumes Saturday at South McComb Baptist Church from 1 until services at 2 p.m. with Dr. David Millican and the Rev. Brent Rutland officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in Hollywood Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice Compassus for their loving care and services.

Pallbearers will be Mervyn Boyd, Brent Mullins, Brian Mullins, James Allan Whittington, Mark Davis and Lee Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers are Pender Richardson, Vaughn Lampton and Milton Burris.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society for the research of Adenocarcinoma, 607 Main Street. # C, Tupelo, MS 38804 or call 662-844-8544.

Share condolences at Hartman-Sharkeyfuneralhome.com.