Forgiving, accepting, giver, provider and a heart of gold! Marsha Ellen Lawson, 72, of Spooner, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's in Duluth, Minnesota.

Marsha Ellen Lawson was born on July 21, 1948, in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. She is the daughter of the late Bob Johnson and Mary Ellen Harper and the late Don Harper. She graduated high school at Northwood Schools in Minong. She married Randy Lucas in 1966, had four children and waitressed in Solon Springs. She and Randy divorced in 1978. She soon became a licensed cosmetologist working in both Minong and Spooner. She married John Lawson on June 14, 1980. He was her world. Then, she moved to working at the Cat's Meow Family Hairstyling for many years. She continued to work hard and learn by attending the University Wisconsin-Superior.  She was just shy of 12 credits for a social work degree. She stopped her schooling because there was an immediate need for treatment foster care. Her heart was for people and children She eventually took over Papa John's Restaurant in Hertel. There she continued to have foster children and run a business for 25 years. She thought about retiring but cooked at the Senior Center, fixed/cut hair and worked in the Activities Department at Maple Ridge Care Center in Spooner. She was a people person and cared for others - family, friends, neighbors, etc. All were welcome in her home and heart. No one was to ever be alone or go hungry.

She leaves her husband of 40 years, John A. Lawson (Spooner); mother Mary Ellen Harper (Spooner); daughter Tammy (Chad) Ackerson (Spooner), daughter Katie Bauer (Spooner), daughter Randi Swanson (Spooner), son Jayme Lucas (Hertel); grandson DJ (Krista) Salquist (Spooner), grandson Luke Ackerson (Scottsdale, AZ), grandson Logan (Bethany) Ackerson (Gilbert, AZ), grandson Bryson Grubbs (Spooner), granddaughter Justine Swanson (Spooner), grandson Jameson Lucas (Spooner), grandson Maverick Swanson (Spooner); great-grandson Orrin Salquist (Spooner), great-granddaughter Nora Ackerson (Gilbert, AZ), great-grandson Magnus Salquist (Spooner), great-granddaughter Amelia Ackerson (Gilbert, AZ), great-granddaughter Avis Salquist (Spooner), great-grandson Ezra Ackerson (Gilbert, AZ); sisters Bobbi Lucas (Spooner), Connie Rennock (Trego), and Denise (Wayne) Johnson (Springbrook); step-brothers Wayne (Holly) Harper (New Richmond) and Cliff (Darla) Harper (Grantsburg); step-sister Gretchen Harper (Bonita Springs, FL); numerous foster children/people she called her children and grandchildren, many sisters and brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her father Robert Johnson, step-father Donald Harper, step-brother Donn Harper, and grandson Ross Ackerson.

There will be a private/immediate family gathering but a celebration of life will be held next summer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Resident Hair Account in memory of Marsha Lawson at Maple Ridge Care Center, 501 1st Street, Spooner, WI 54801.

Last Update: Dec 02, 2020 4:12 pm CST