Rena May Lawson

Rena M. Lawson, 90, of Polk, NE, walked into the arms of her Savior on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at her home in Polk. Funeral services will be on Friday, October 6, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Polk with Pastor Myron Stafford officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, October 5th from 5-7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Polk. Interment will be at the Laclede Cemetery near Polk. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Rena May Willits was born on December 7, 1926 to Grant and Mildred Willits on the family farm near Polk, NE. She spent her childhood in the Polk area attending Rural School District 46 and then High Prairie High. Rena graduated from high school in 1944 and then attended summer school at Kearney State Teachers College. She completed the teacher certification exams and became a rural school teacher. She taught South of Polk for two years before returning to school. From 1946-1948 she attended Bethel College in St Paul, MN. She then taught in the York County Schools for three years. Rena received her B.A. in Education in 1952 from the University of Nebraska and then taught for seven years in Lincoln. In 1959 she started her master’s degree at the University of Denver, and received her degree while teaching in the Denver Public Schools. Rena met Eldon “Bud” Lawson while living in Denver and the two were united in marriage on January 27, 1962 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Denver. The couple moved to Moses Lake, Washington and then to Glendale, AZ. Rena began teaching in the Cartwright School District as well as helping Bud farm and run their custom hay operation in the Glendale and West Phoenix Valley area. Following Bud’s death, Rena would spend part of her time near her daughter Melody, in Polk, NE as well as at her home in Peoria, AZ Rena loved music! She was a faithful church organist and pianist most of her life. When she wasn't playing the organ she was singing in the choir or with her beloved Harmony Trio. Rena was a wonderful cook and enjoyed sewing. She was a faithful prayer warrior. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Glendale, serving as a Sunday school teacher. When she moved to Polk, she then became a member of the First Baptist Church in Polk. In Polk, she loved substituting as organist and pianist, playing as recently as this Sunday for church services. She was an active member of the Arizona Farm Bureau, and chaired the Women’s Committee for several years. She is an Honorary State FFA Degree Recipient and Honorary National FFA Degree Recipient. She loved participating in Bible Study Fellowship. Those left to cherish her memory are; her daughter – Melody (Kevin) Sandell of Polk, NE; her grandchildren – Chloe Brianne Sandell and Noah Loy Sandell of Polk, NE; and her brother – Dale (Dulcie) Willits of Colorado Springs, CO along with many nieces nephews, dear friends and neighbors She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eldon “Bud” Lawson, her brother Robert Willits and sister-in-law Alice Willits.

Rena May Lawson

December 7, 1926 - September 27, 2017