Kathleen Bernice (McGuire) Lawler

Kathleen Bernice (McGuire) Lawler was born June 14, 1924 to John and Cecilia (DeVous) McGuire in Pond Settlement, Gallatin County. As a child, her family moved to Harrisburg, IL. She graduated from Harrisburg High School and went to work at Kresge’s Five and Dime Store. She married John M. Lawler February 11, 1947. They built their home in Ridgway, IL where she continued to live until her 100th birthday. Then she moved toVillas of Holly Brook Assisted Living in Harrisburg, IL for 6 months; and in her final days she resided at Gallatin Manor in Ridgway, IL. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on February 21, 2025. 

She always enjoyed hosting and cooking for family and friends, especially during Popcorn Day festival. Her kitchen was always filled with food for all to enjoy. She was well known for her famous pecan pies, angel food cakes, and turtle candies. She lived a full life enjoying gardening, raising chickens, picking up pecans from her pecan trees, canning garden vegetables, making homemade jellies, playing cards with her card group every week, loving her family, but most importantly she enjoyed giving to others. She never met a stranger and loved to talk to all! She was very faithful as a member of St. Kateri church and St. Kateri Altar Society. She was very involved in politics and a long-serving member of the Shawneetown Housing Authority. 

She was proceeded in death by her husband John, by her parents John and Cecilia McGuire, infant sister Mary McGuire, sister Gertrude Scherrer, daughter-in-law Shelly Lawler, and son-in-law Gary Jones. 

She is survived by her 5 children, Carolyn Jones of Ridgway, IL, Bob (Susan) Lawler of Metropolis, IL, Marion Lawler of McLeansboro, IL, Jim (Terri) Lawler of Ridgway, IL, and Pat(Pam) Lawler of Ridgway, IL; grandchildren Brian (Kelly) Jones of Nashville, TN, Amy Jones (Todd Goforth) of New Haven, IL, Mary Lynn (Buddy) Reeder of Ridgway, IL, Bill(Amanda) Jones of Ridgway, IL, Racheal Lawler of Cleveland, TN, April (Brandon) Smallwood of Paducah, KY, Kezya (Doug) Newman of McLeansboro, IL, Bryanna (Adam) Grant of Evansville, IN, Jason (Marsha) Lawler of Ridgway, IL, Sarah(Jeremy) Kauffman of Omaha, IL, Matt Lawler of Ridgway, IL, and Katie (Ryan) Dunn of Ridgway, IL; great grandchildren Tucker and Beau Jones, Justin Murphy, Lucas (Jacie) Reeder, Logan Reeder, Bailey, Noah, and Emma Jones, Cooper Smallwood, Justice Newman, Rose and Auggie Grant, Aundrea, Mackenzie, Casey, and Dillon Lawler, and Rhett Kauffman; great, great grandchildren Hudson and Harlee Murphy and Asher Braden; also known as “Memaw” to Lindsay Williams(Jamie Campbell), Travis Hust, and Andy (Kinsey) Henshaw; and many nieces and nephews. 

Visitation for Kathleen will be held Monday, February 24, 2025 at Cox & Son Funeral Home in Ridgway, IL from 5:00-8:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Kateri Catholic Church in Ridgway, IL. Interment will immediately follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Ridgway, IL. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Kateri, St. Patrick’s Cemetery, or St. Jude.