Brian Forrest Lawson Date of Birth: Wed, 03/25/1959 Date of Death: Sat, 02/18/2012
Brian Forrest Lawson, 52, loving son, brother & uncle, passed away Saturday, February 18th, 2012. He was preceded in death by his Father, Loren Wilson Lawson and brother, Loren Anthony Lawson. He is survived by his Mother, Vicki Lawson; brothers, Kent Wilson Lawson & wife, Victoria, James Lee Lawson, Ronald R. Lawson & wife, Juliana; sister, Loriann Secciani & husband, Lee; many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Brian was a gentle soul who loved Jesus and his family. He will be remembered and missed greatly. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 1:00 PM at the chapel of Cypress Fairbanks Funeral Home.

Recent Tributes

  • Tim Gosling
    Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 06:40

    Although we only met Brian once on one of our trips to see Ron and Juliana with their new family in the United States, he impressed us with his quiet and friendly manner. And like you all, it was such a shock to learn of his passing. Our thanks to Juliana for keeping us informed and passing on our wishes and thoughts to Vicki and the rest of the family during this ordeal.

    We are thinking of you Vickie at this sad time and hope you find comfort in Brian's faith and his life. It has been such a hard year for you and we feel your loss personally, even all the way over here. Hopefully you can also take comfort having the grandchildren and others there with you and we look forward to seeing you again when we get the chance to come over later this year.

    Our deepest condolences and love to you and all the family.

    Tim and Margaret Gosling
    Perth, Western Australia

  • John Oneacre
    Saturday, March 10, 2012 - 12:08

    I had the privilege of knowing Brian the past four years at Houston Northwest Church and served as Brian's Bible Study teacher. At the end of the teaching, the men would move to another room for discussions about the leasson. Although it took time and effort to have Brian talk about the lesson, when he spoke, we listened intently. It was obvious that Brian was well grounded with the Bible and he presented his thoughts with clarity and knowledge. Brian was interested in Bible prophecy and spoke often about the subject.
    Brian brought laughter to the class; an example that comes to mind was a white elephant Christmas exchange at an annual Christmas party. Rather than opening the gifts, each person kept the gift wrapped. After each person possessed a wrapped gift, a story was read aloud that contained two "key" words. Depending upon the "key" word spoken, the participants were supposed to pass his/her gift to the right or to the left. At the end of the story, participants were to open the gift in their hands. Sounds simple, correct? Our class had a way of complicating the simple; some of us were confused over which way to pass a gift. "Do I pass to the right?" "No, no, your other right!" "What, I didn't hear that instruction" "Wait, I don't understand". Within minutes, the game collapese into complete chaos. Meanwhile, Brian, as quiet as a church mouse, had been accumulating a treasure of gifts; apparently Brian's understanding of the game was 'He with the most gifts at the end of the game wins'.
    Brian shared his concerns for his parents when his father's health began to decline and we prayed often for both his father and mother.
    Several of the members of the Bible study class visited Brian at Methodist when we learned of his illness. We were encouraged when we visited the hospital and were told we had been moved to another facility and was improving. We had just updated the class on Brian when Brian's brother and his family walked into the class and informed us that Brian was with the Lord. If I may offer some words of comfort to the family:
    Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning- Psalm 30:5. Although you are enduring the darkness of grieving we are not a people without hope; as Paul told Titus, we have a hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).
    Although we don't have all the answers, it's simply because, as Paul tells us, we are looking in a mirror dimly (1 Cor. 13:12). The good news that Paul reveals is that there will be a time when we shall see our Savior face to face! Although we only know in part now, then we shall know even as we are known. What an incredible promise.
    John, in the Book of Revelation, tells us that the Lord Himself shall "wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
    We pray that the God of comfort will console Brian's family with His Holy Spirit.
    John Oneacre

  • Ron Lawson
    Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 21:58

    I grew up with Brian and I have fun memories of us in Germany. I remember him and I picking and eating lots of plums together from the local hills nearby. We played Basketball and Baseball together as kids; and Brian was rather good in Baseball. During high school we took auto shop together and used to walk around our classes covered in grease. I remember him and I working on our 65 Ford Galaxy with a 390 engine, we thought it was the coolest car.
    Brian never strayed from Jesus after he accepted the Lord. He constantly prayed and always helped Mom and Dad around the house. He perseverved and fought the good fight always counting on God to help him with his struggles. He didn't pursue worldly desires but instead stayed faithful to his faith.
    I remember Brian's last few years here in Texas, babysitting, visiting, and taking care of Mom while Dad was sick. The kids loved Uncle Brian, and I know they will miss him greatly. His last weeks we spoke together and expressed our Love for each other, I'm glad God gave us a chance to express ourselves to each other before he left us. We Love you Brian and we will never forget you.

  • Lawrence Graff - cousin
    Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 19:19

    Brian,

    You were a gentle and faithful man who always had a kind word for everyone. Your insight into other people's sensitivities and their need for kindness was truly a gift from God. Your quiet and soft character was a good example to all of us. Isaiah 57:2 comes to mind: "Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." May you rest in peace, dear cousin.

  • Juliana Lawson
    Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 11:12

    I think Avis said it great. Brian was a gentle, kind and caring person. Not once did I ever hear him complain while helping Vicki care for his Dad, it was not easy and he was there day in and day out, doctors, hospitals, waiting rooms, supporting his Mum through everything. Even prior to that, I never heard him complain about the long Lawson ROADTRIPS!!!!!! It seemed that they (Loren, Vicki and Brian) were always travelling across the country someplace, always in a rush...Ron has some interesting stories about how they managed to do that when they were younger without stopping!!!!

    He loved Tae and Cassie and they loved their Uncle Brian. They will miss his smiles and his love and little surprises to build their "classrooms". Brian wanted to be a math teacher and always had words of encouragement to Tae who wants to be one too. He played with his nieces and babysat them (I'm sure he let them get away with alot as they always were smiling and happy when Ron and I came home :)).

    When we had received the call on Jan 18th from Jim and his Mum that Brian was on death's door, we were all in shock and disbelief... he was supposed to be dehydrated and needing some fluids, not in ICU, way too young to die. I am so grateful that he recovered to such an extent afterwards that he was able to speak to us. We all recall Brian calling out to us as we were leaving him one day "Love you guys". It is etched in our hearts and we were so happy to have had that time with him.

    Brian cared alot about his church and his friends there and I know he wants you all to know that. Thankyou to everyone who has helped us out and supported the family during these last 2 months, my work friends, our neighbours, family, you've all been so great and understanding. I wanted to also capture Brian's last moments here because I know for sure he is heaven and with God now, and this was just an awesome experience to witness his passing:-

    Saturday Feb 18th 2012 we went in to the hospital with heavy hearts knowing we would have to have his ventilator turned off. Just after that happened, he raised his left arm up from his side to his chest (I was a bit shocked and let go, but he kept on going, so it wasn’t me) and then he raised his left hand up off the bed, to his chest and clasped his right hand like he was praying, opened his eyes (although did not seem like he could see) and then passed away. I can’t explain it, but there was this wonderful feeling of just peace and I know he’s in a better place now.

    Thanks Brian, I am a better person having known you. You were loved and I know you are pain free and in a better place now, although you will be sadly missed by all of us,

    Ron, Juliana, Tae, Cassie, Pogo & Abbey x x x x o o o o

  • Connie Oneacre
    Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 16:52

    There are so many words to describe Brian. Faithful comes to me right now. Brian was a member of our Singles Sunday School class at Houston NW Church for quite a few years. He was so very faithful to attend each and every week. His kind and gentle spirit was an inspiration to us all. We enjoyed having Brian at our class activities. He had so much fun when we had game night. He made us all smile just a little bit more. There was a game night shortly after his dad passed away and we were thrilled that Brian came so he could be surrounded by friends who could encourage him at that difficult time. Though his heart was grieving, he was able to laugh and have a good time. We already miss Brian and his love for the Lord. We miss seeing him carrying several Bibles in church. He was a blessing to our class and we will miss him for along time to come. We rejoice that he is with his Heavenly Father.

  • Loriann
    Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - 23:43

    Dearest Mom, I hope that when you read this you will feel a little more love sent to you during this time of loss.

    It seems that deaths come in clusters....suddenly several friends and family seem to need to leave one right after the other. There were four other deaths for us to go thru in the last several months, but none were like the loss of Brian.
    Brian wasn't old; he had no diseases; he was strong and young; healthy and happy. He had spent his last two years helping his mother, Vickie, and his brother, Jim, in their home as they took care of his dad, Loren. His dad went through countless hospitalizations and near-deaths before he finally passed away. His dad's death was expected years before it happened. Loren far outlasted all of his doctors' expectations and predictions. There was grief when he died but most of it had already been experienced along the way as they lost him little by little. Now it seemed that Brian and Vickie and Jim should be able to rest awhile. Their hard work and commitment was finished.
    When Loren died Vickie wasn't panicked. She had Brian faithfully at her side where he had been for her for all of his life. Vickie is a dependent soul but as a family we all knew that Brian would be there to help her...to continue to drive her to all of the places she wanted to go...to keep the cars running or at least find a mechanic...to pay the bills as his dad had always done. He and his brother, Jim, would be there to carry out the trash, to mow the lawns, to support their mom in whatever Vickie needed.
    It wasn't the right time for Brian to get sick. It certainly wasn't time for him to suddenly be so seriously ill. Within hours he went from experiencing vague complaints to having emergency surgery to the ICU on a ventilator and fighting septic shock. It didn't make any sense to any one. It was so far off of the plan...so unexpected...and SO UNFAIR!!! He was due a rest and time for himself...not to be fighting for his life moment by moment in that ICU. No one could understand, accept. He fought back from the very edge of death slowly, even to the amazement of the medical staff caring for him. Now that began to make sense! Of course his youth and vigor would win his battle against infection.
    Brian improved day by day and all of the family felt that they could breathe again. Back on track. He didn't deserve to have to endure the long and slow recuperation ahead of him but already he was smiling and talking again. He was working hard to recover. He would never be the same strong man that he was before his illness but he was certainly able to live many more decades! Thank God. It was getting better every day.
    The next day CPR was being performed on Brian. He had stopped breathing. His heart stopped until the medics could defibrillate him and bring back a pulse. Suddenly. No warning. No sense. His doctor was completely stunned and unable to understand how or why. Brian was unconscious. Tests were being done as quickly as possible -- trying to explain what had happened. But the most important test showed that his brain had died before the CPR. There was no hope for him to awake or to live. His family had to unplug the ventilator and and let him die. His mother couldn't even bear to be in the room to see the very end.
    It was completely cruel, unjust, unfair...unexplainable, unimaginable...unacceptable. How could his youth and good health have lost so quickly and so badly when his father who was so old and so very ill seemed to just keep winning against multiple diseases and countless illnesses and set backs? It made so little sense.
    There is Faith and Grace and Love that fills our hearts and minds at this time, and thank God for all of it. We have needed it and we will rely on it. Our knowledge that Brian loved God makes all of this quietly acceptable although difficult. May God cradle Vickie close to his heart just like a shepherd with his lamb. And most of all, may God bless Brian with that rest and contentment that he is due .
    We miss you Brian and we always will.

Add a tribute

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.