Helen Imogene Dunlap Lawson

Helen Imogene Dunlap Lawson passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Life Care Center. She was a member of Fairview Church and the Sparkplugs Sunday School Class. She was a graduate of Everett High School where she was a Band Sponsor her senior year. Helen retired from her secretarial position at Alcoa in 1989, after 44 years of service and was a member of the Alcoa 25 Year Service Club. She and her husband Ralph enjoyed traveling the country together until his death in 1996. She played a significant role in the 1997 publication of the updated Sparks/Lawson family history - "Nathan Sparks and Jane Potter Sparks of Cades Cove and Their Descendants" - by typing the entire book for her brother-in-law Bobby. Helen loved reading and trying new recipes; working in her flower beds; playing Rook with her long-time friends in the Dutch Rook Club; and spending time with her family and her Sparkplug Sunday School Class. At 96 and with her eyesight almost gone, Helen was proud and grateful that she was able to live in her home until the last three weeks of her life, with the help of Diane and Debbie (nieces), Pat (cousin), Ruth and Alfred (sister and brother-in-law), friends and neighbors. 

Preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Lawson; parents, Harvey and Jessie Leota Crisp Dunlap; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Olin Marshall; brother, James Hugh Dunlap; stepson, Norman Lawson; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bobby and Helen Lawson. Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Alfred Barham;stepdaughter, Elizabeth "Libby" Lawson; stepson, Fred Lawson and wife, Judy; two step-granddaughters and two step-great grandsons; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Troy and June Lawson; numerous nieces and nephews and several cousins. 

The family will receive friends 3:00-4:00 PM Thursday, January 11, 2024, at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home with funeral services following at 4:00 PM with Rev. Gilbert Harris officiating. Family and friends will meet at 2:00 PM Friday at Mattox Cemetery for the interment.