Obituaries

Virgil H. Lawyer

Photo of Virgil H. Lawyer
Virgil H. Lawyer, 88, of Searcy, died Sept. 13 at his home following complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was born July 17, 1924, in McKenzie, N.D. to the late S. A. and Olive Lawyer. A 1942 graduate of Harding Academy and a 1946 graduate of Harding University, he was also a retired minister and a retired professor of history at Harding. Following graduation, he married Lou Dugger and the couple spent five years in Japan, helping establish Ibaraki Christian College and High School. He received a Master of Arts in speech and history and political science from North Texas University in 1955 and did doctoral work while teaching speech at Texas Tech University. He also assisted in the establishment of Lubbock (Texas) Christian University in 1957. He was a member of the College Church of Christ, first in 1941 when his family moved to Searcy and since 1961 when they returned. He joined the Harding faculty as dean of students and director of admissions. From 1972 until his retirement in 1989, he taught in the department of history. Also, in order to enhance the natural beauty of the Harding grounds, he initiated and directed the planting of azaleas and dogwoods throughout the campus. As a minister, he served churches in Ft. Worth and Justin, Texas; Kennett, Mo.; and Step Rock, Pangburn, Forrest City, Heber Springs, and Coy, Ark. In addition to his wife, Lou Dugger Lawyer of 65 years, he is survived by three daughters, Lauren Reese and her husband Mike of Ft. Worth; Andee Cone and her husband Jimmy of Little Rock; and Jan Underwood and her husband David of Searcy; six grandchildren, Beau Jennings, Blair Jennings, Patrick Cone and his wife Lauren, Alex Cone and his wife Krista, Matthew Underwood and his wife Liz, and Luke Underwood and his wife Juliana; great-grandchildren Eliot Cone and Anderson Underwood, and Ellie Underwood, soon to be born; a brother, Jack Lawyer of Conway and a sister, Mary Jo Ross of Austin, Texas, and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his twin brother Vernon and by six other brothers, Robert, Dean, Ray, Paul, Doug, and Kenneth Lawyer; and two sisters, Roberta Mitchell and Lois Conn. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, September 16, 2012 at the College Church of Christ by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home. The family will receive at a reception in the Family Room following the service. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harding University Virgil and Lou Lawyer Study Abroad Scholarship Fund or the Campus Beautification Program, Box 12238, 915 East Market St., Searcy, Ark. 72149. For online guestbook, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.

Published September 15, 2012

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