Jake Cleveland "J.C." Lawler's Obituary
Jake Cleveland “J.C.” Lawler, 80, of Shamrock passed from this life on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 3:45 in the afternoon.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m. at the Shamrock Cemetery.
Jake was born in Wheeler, Texas, on August 15, 1944, to parents Joseph C. Lawler and Frances L. Mitchell Lawler. His father was killed in action in Italy during WWII, and he is buried in the Florence American Cemetery in Italy. His death occurred nineteen days before Jake was born.
Jake and his brother, Joe, were raised on the family farm northwest of Twitty by his mother, Frances; his grandfather, Lige Mitchell; his grandmother, Lola B. Jolly Mitchell; and his uncle, Roy Mitchell. Jake was one of 21 grandchildren of Lige and Lola Mitchell.
Jake attended Wheeler schools until 1959 when his grandfather Mitchell died, and the family moved to Shamrock. Jake graduated from Shamrock High School in 1963. His family attended the Missionary Baptist Church.
After graduation, Jake attended Draughon’s Business College in Amarillo; he lived and worked in Amarillo most of his adult life. After working many years as a sales rep for Golden Light Equipment Company, he retired and moved back to Shamrock.
Jake was a lifeguard at Shamrock’s City swimming pool in 1962 and 1963.
He enjoyed swimming, running, racquetball, handball, golfing, and was a certified scuba diver, but most of all, he loved fishing, especially with his lifelong friend, Tommy Staggs.
Jake and Tommy became friends when they were just young boys, a relationship that was formed at the Missionary Baptist Church. The young friends were taught to fish and received their passion for fishing from Tommy’s great-uncle, Cecil Rook, who became their mentor for many things in life. Jake and Tommy remained close friends for over seventy years until Jake’s death.
Jake had a great love and affection for all of his Mitchell family first cousins and enjoyed the time he spent with them at the family and cousins’ reunions. He was especially close to and had many fond memories of the times he spent with his cousins, Jack Wiliam ”J.W.” Toolen, Jr. and Olan Maurice “Moss” Mitchell.
Jake was preceded in death by his grandfather, Lige Mitchell; his grandmother, Lola B. Jolly Mitchell; his father, Joseph C. Lawler; his mother, Frances L. Lawler; his brother, Joe Allen Lawler; many Lawler and Mitchell family members; and nine Mitchell family first cousins.
He is survived by his nephews, Clinton Joe Lawler of Texico, New Mexico; Brett Allen Lawler and wife Gina; and William Mitchell Lawler all of Amarillo; one niece, Alicia Kaye Wade and husband Brad of Austin, Texas, Tommy Staggs, Helen Stone, Kassidy Carter, and Jordan Stone of Shamrock; and eleven Mitchell family first cousins.
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