Crystal ‘Chris’ Ruth (Richards) Lawson
Crystal ‘Chris’ Ruth (Richards) Lawson was born October 29, 1963, in Ironton, Missouri to Herbert “Bill” and Peggy (Stevenson) Richards. Chris grew up surrounded by her parents, two brothers, Curtis and Danny, her grandparents Marshal and Imogene Stevenson, and her many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Most Sunday afternoons of her childhood were spent at her grandparents’ farm on Sinkin Creek where she and her cousins roamed the woods, ate green apples, rode horses, hunted crawdads, and swam in the creeks. She was surrounded by a large, loving family with many friends in the close-knit, small community of Redford, Missouri.
Chris graduated from Ellington High School in 1982. She attended the Redford Church of the Nazarene, and it was here on July 2, 1994, that Chris married the love of her life, Ronald Lawson. Their joy was complete with the birth of their son, Dillon, in 1996, who joined his two stepsisters Nancy and Sarah to make the family whole. Together Chris and Ron shared twenty-seven years of love, laughter, and precious memories before his death in 2022.
Chris and Ron lived in Viburnum where Chris was employed at Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence. With its focus on helping people, it was a suitable job for Chris. Helping others, cooking- anyone who knew her will always remember her fabulous desserts, gathering with family and friends were the focus of Chris’ all-too-short-life. She was a huge fan of Alan Jackson and was thrilled when Dillon took her to a live concert.
Chris passed away at the Salem Memorial District Hospital, entering her heavenly home on June 3, 2023, at the age of fifty-nine years, seven months, and six days. We can only imagine the joyous reunion she had with Ron, her dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Yet, those whom she leaves behind mourn her passing – how much we shall miss her! She leaves behind her precious son: Dillon Lawson; stepdaughters: Nancy (Larry Walls) Halbert and Sarah (Charles) Allen; mother: Peggy Richards; brothers: Curtis (Linda) Richards and Danny (Jodi) Richards; grandchildren: Shelby (Kevin) Jernigan, Danielle (Brandon) Woods, Christopher (Bailey Hubbs) Allen, Shawn (Angelina Johnson) Allen, Casey Halbert, Joseph (Sarah Trautwein) Crump, and Simon Crump; great-grandchildren: Hope, Garland, Matthew, Carson, Hudson, Lawson, Eva, Kathryn, and Camden; niece and nephew: Stephanie (Matt) Neal and Chad Richards; three great-nieces: Josie, Holly, and Hannah Neal; sister-in-law: Joyce Bays; brothers-in-law: Jack Lawson and Donald Lawson; and a host of other family members and dear friends.
Chris was a joy to us! She was happy and content with her life, her home, her family and friends, which she considered to be her greatest gifts. She lived a life that truly reflected the “Fruits of the Spirit” in her love, patience, kindness, gentleness and goodness.
Funeral Services for Crystal “Chris” Ruth (Richards) Lawson were held Thursday, June 8, 2023, in the Wilson Mortuary Viburnum Chapel with Pastor Paul Davis officiating. Song selections played were “Precious Memories”, “I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You”, “Amazing Grace”, and “Sissy’s Song”. Serving as Pallbearers were Dillon Lawson, Danny Richards, Curtis Richards, Chad Richards, Brandon Woods, Chris Allen, Jamie Bell, and Anthony Burchard. Burial was in the Upper Indian Creek Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Wilson Mortuary of Viburnum, Missouri.
