Jerry Neal Dawson

Jerry Neal Dawson was born December 14, 1934 in Newgulf, Texas, the second child of Jerry Leonard Dawson and Gladys Lohman. He was raised in Burr, Texas on his father’s farm. He graduated from Boling High School at the age of 16 in 1950.

Neal met Francis Lorraine Howard in 1956 at a local dance in El Campo. They married on April 21, 1957 in El Campo, and they lived their lives together in the Newgulf and Boling areas. Shortly after their wedding, Neal was drafted into the Army where he served overseas in Germany as a tank operator. Francis delivered their first child, a son, Kent Howard Dawson in 1958 while Neal was away at training camp. After his Army service, Neal returned home and the family moved to Newgulf, Texas where he continued his job with Texas Gulf Sulphur Company in the paint shop. He worked for TG until his retirement in 1995. Their daughter, Kim Renee, was born in 1961. Their last child, a son, Kirk Neal, was born in 1967. Neal and Francis built a home in Boling, Texas in 1979, where they lived for the rest of their almost 57-year marriage, until Francis passed away on February 8, 2014.

Neal used the skills he learned while working in the paint shop at Texas Gulf to start a side-business of custom car painting for family and friends, which included detailed murals and designs. He and Francis loved to fish and camp together. Neal’s hobbies included wood-working and making pens from deer antlers.

Neal met Mary Agnes Grissom in late 2014 at a local dance. Neal and Mary Agnes enjoyed dancing together for 5 months until they married on May 2, 2015. They were married for 9 happy years and enjoyed dancing, camping and church activities until Neal passed away peacefully in their Wharton home on May 3, 2024.

Jerry Neal Dawson is survived by his wife, Mary Agnes; by his children: Kent Dawson and wife, Lori, of La Grange; Kim Kieler and her husband, Charlie, of East Bernard; Kirk Dawson and his wife, Seana, of East Grinstead, England; his grandchildren: Karissa Kocian and husband, Eric, of La Grange; Brittany Kerr and her husband, Bryan, of La Grange; Tyler Dawson and his wife, Courtney, of Bryan; Wyatt Kieler and his wife, Kannan, of East Bernard; Joseph Dawson of East Grinstead, England; Kristin Kieler of East Bernard; his great grandchildren: Grady Kocian, Zach Kocian, Olivia Kerr, Nora Kerr, Truman Kieler and a great grandson Kieler due in July 2024. Neal was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Francis, and his siblings: Dorothy Justice, Boyd Dawson and Mary Sterry.

Expressions of Gratitude: The children of Jerry Neal Dawson would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Neal’s wife, Mary Agnes, and his granddaughter, Kristin, for the special care they provided during the months of medical treatments and hospital visits throughout Neal’s illness.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 10:00 am at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Wharton.