Franklin D. Lawson Jr., or “Frankie” as he was known by his friends, was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Franklin D. Lawson Sr. and Dixie Louise (Lathrom) Lawson on June 20, 1959. He departed this life at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, on March 11, 2024, following a long illness. He was 64 years, 8 months, and 21 days of age.
Frankie graduated from Mountain Grove High School and went to Wisconsin and Montana for a while. He then moved back to Missouri and helped his dad in his building construction company. He later worked on bridges until his health didn’t allow it anymore.
Frankie married Diane Tasker in 1984. They had three children, Travis, Danny, and Jesse. Frankie loved the woods and rivers. He spent his spare time fishing on the creeks, rivers, and lakes. He loved the sport of game hunting! You know, “Big Bucks! Turkey! Yum!”
Whether it was big fish or small, same with the bucks, it was always a “big one!” Frankie was saved and baptized at an early age and rekindled his belief before he left this world.
Frankie was preceded in death by his father, Franklin D. Lawson Sr.; his mother, Dixie Lawson; one son, Travis Tasker; and a grandson, Jordan Tasker.
Frankie is survived by his children, Ryan Ratterree, Danny Lawson, and Jesse Lawson and his wife, Nicki; grandchildren, Sierra Kenaga and husband, Cody, Lexie Sanders and husband, Noah, Lane Lowrance, Hanleigh Lawson, Miley Ratterree, and Ransom Ratterree; great-grandchildren, Harper and Sage Kenaga and Jovie Sanders; and two sisters, Debi Kutz and Betty Lawson.
There will definitely be a hole left in our hearts as we say, “goodbye, until we meet again at the river!”
