Cecil Edwin Lawson

Cecil Edwin Lawson, age 86, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2026, at the beautiful Newaygo County Compassion Home in Fremont, Michigan, after a brief journey with cancer.

Cecil was born on April 27, 1940, in Yawkey, West Virginia. He made Grand Rapids his home for more than fifty years, where he built a life marked by quiet service, enduring friendships, and an insatiable curiosity about the world.

For many years, Cecil worked in the pathology department at St. Mary's Hospital, a chapter of his life that he remembered with great fondness. He also took classes at Grand Rapids Baptist College, which continued his faith journey.

Since 2008, Cecil was a familiar presence in Grand Rapids' Heartside neighborhood, where he found not only support but also a community that became his home. While he quietly carried deep regrets over choices from earlier in life, he never stopped seeking meaning, learning, and connection. He was known for his thoughtful conversations, genuine curiosity, and forming deep and lasting relationships. Among those who will miss him dearly are several longtime companions along with the many friends he made in the Heartside community.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents and numerous siblings. Though life's circumstances created distance within his family over the years, he carried many memories with him throughout his life.

A lifelong learner, Cecil possessed a remarkable curiosity and a love of reading that never faded. In his final years, he checked out nearly one hundred books from the LaGrave Church library. He delighted in collecting meaningful passages, articles, and quotations to share with friends.

Following a cancer diagnosis this spring, Cecil was granted the gift of a peaceful and gentle transition into the arms of his Lord. As he explored God's grace and deepened his spiritual journey, he faced the end of his life with quiet faith and serenity.

A memorial reception will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 11am at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 107 LaGrave Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.  Cecil will be laid to rest at Rosedale Memorial Park in Walker, Michigan.

Memorial donations in Cecil’s honor may be made to Guiding Light at www.guidinglightworks.org/give or to other ministries in Heartside that were meaningful to him.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.

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