Harold Dean Lawing

Harold Dean Lawing, Sr., a devoted family man and furniture executive, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2015 in Lenoir. Mr. Lawing was born in Marion, North Carolina on August 28, 1934, to the late Everett D. and Laura Bowman Lawing.He graduated from Marion High School where he played on the Varsity Basketball and Baseball teams and was voted “Most Popular.”He attended North Carolina State University and graduated from Appalachian State Teacher’s College in 1957 with a degree in Business Education.He continued his studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Mr. Lawing played on the Appalachian Men’s Varsity Basketball team and was chosen to be “Yosef,” the university’s mascot, where he portrayed a bearded mountaineer in realistic fashion for two years.He was President of the Business Club and voted “Most Popular” his senior year. There, he met and later married Appalachian’s Head Cheerleader, Joyce Ollis. Upon graduation, Mr. Lawing worked for Rock Creek Mills in Turnersburg, N.C. before being hired by Broyhill Furniture Industries where he enjoyed a 25-year career.From 1961 to 1974, he was a Data Processing Manager.He joined the sales force in 1974 as Sales Manager of the Dining Room Division.In 1977, he became Vice President, Occasional Division, before moving to Vice President, Dining Room Division in 1979 until 1986.That same year, Mr. Lawing opened Lawings of Lenoir Furniture, a retail furniture establishment, which he managed until his retirement in 1999.A consummate salesman, he remained in the furniture business, working part-time for Kincaid Furniture Outlet, in the months prior to his death. Mr. Lawing served in the U.S. Army Reserves and gave of his time to his community as Chairman of the Lenoir City School Board and member of Lenoir Optimist Club.An accomplished golfer, he was President of Cedar Rock Country Club.He was President of Appalachian State University Alumni and served on the Board of Visitors for Appalachian State University.He was a member of First Baptist Church where he served as a Life Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.Active in local, state and national Republican politics, he received the Order of Long Leaf Pine from former N.C. Governor, James Martin. Mr. Lawing is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce Ollis Lawing; daughter Laurie Clawson and husband Gary of Lenoir; daughter Leslie Gallagher and husband James of Alexandria, VA; son Harold “Hal” D. Lawing, Jr. and wife Rebecca of Lenoir; grandchildren Alex and Sydney Clawson; Megan and Katie Gallagher; and Houston and Holden Lawing.He is preceded in death by two sisters and a grandson, Andrew Dean Clawson. A memorial service will be held for Mr. Lawing on Monday, March 9 at First Baptist Church, Lenoir at 1 p.m. with Dr. David B. Smith, Dr. Thomas Hinton, and the Reverend Jock P. Ollis, brother-in-law of Winston-Salem, N.C., officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. The burial service will be private. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 304 Main St. NW, Lenoir, NC 28645; The Yosef Club, Appalachian State University, PO Box 32025, Boone, NC 28608; or Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street NW, Lenoir, NC 28645. Condolences can be sent to the Lawing family at 2903 Rockwood Drive, Lenoir, N.C. 28645 or online at www.evansfuneralservice.com. Evans Funeral Service & Crematory of Lenoir is serving the Lawing Family. PDF Printable Version