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Obituaries

Renton Says Farewell To Edie-Mae Lawyer, Former "Miss Renton"

Long-time Renton resident, Edie-Mae Lawyer, active in many of Renton's civic organizations and Renton High School, died last week. She will be remembered at a service on Monday at Greenwood Memorial.

Edie- Mae Lawyer, 1934-2011

There wasn’t a place in Renton that you couldn’t find Edie-Mae Lawyer volunteering, singing, smiling, and just generally offering a helping hand.

The long-time Renton resident died Friday, July 15 at the age of 77.  She is survived by her husband Gene Gannon of Renton; daughters Theresa Ross of Rhode Island, and Suzanne Tandeski and husband Terry of Arizona; and four grandchildren.

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“It is hard to put into words all of the places she was actively involved,” said Debbie Little from the Renton Senior Center, one of many friends who reminisced about Lawyer this week.

“Renton was everything to her! Whatever was best for Renton is how she felt. She gave everything to Renton,” Little said.

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Lawyer was a proud graduate of Renton High School (1952) and served on the Friends of Renton High Schools Committee and the 100-year anniversary committee.

She was Miss Renton 1954 and represented the in the 2009 parade.

Lawyer served for 10 years on the Mayor’s Senior Advisory Committee (including most recently as president), numerous chamber committees and activities, including as an Ambassador, the Leisure Estates Homeowners Association (as president), the Piazza Group, and volunteered regularly at the .

She was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, served on the board of Allied Arts of Renton, the Lions Club, and was dedicated to the Special Olympics of which she was a long-time sponsor.

“She really was ‘Miss Renton,'” said her long-time friend Helen Phillips. “She was dedicated to every committee she was on, and every event that she chaired." 

Linda Middlebrooks, president of Piazza Renton worked with Lawyer as a member of Piazza, the Renton Farmers Market and with the .

“She was an integral part of the annual art show,” Middlebrooks said. “When I asked for volunteers, Edie-Mae was there Friday, Saturday and Sunday—every day, all day long.” Middlebrooks said. "Edie Mae set the model for staffing the event for years afterward."

Lawyer, was, actually a lawyer—for more than 42 years. She was a graduate of the University of Washington. She spent many years as a member of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.

Several pages of Lawyer’s biography were featured in the book Renton High School Centennial’s 100 year oral history written by friend, Barbara Nilson—and presented this year at the centennial celebration.

“I’m proud to be a coal miner’s granddaughter,” Lawyer is quoted as saying in the oral history book. She shared remembrances in the book of growing up around the Cedar River, when “I was related to everyone in town, and everyone knew what you were doing.”

According to many of her friends, Lawyer’s passion in life was singing, and she was happy to contribute her talents to numerous volunteer events in the community, said Phillips. She was a member of the Seattle Opera Company for 19 years.

Her love of music took root in her childhood—according to the oral history book. She said that her grandmother was blind, but had a wonderful voice, as did her mother and several other relatives. Lawyer remembered singing in harmonies with her family and later at her church.

Services will be held at  on Monday August 1 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew Masonic Lodge, 505 South Williams Street.

The family suggests that remembrances in Lawyer’s name be made to Washington Special Olympics or the Renton Lions for care of Seniors.

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