Jakob Lester Lawson
Jakob Lester Lawson of Katy, Texas, formerly of Cassadaga, died at home after a brave battle with cancer.
Jake was born June 19, 1972, in Dunkirk, to Karl and Sally Weatherford Lawson.
Jake attended Cassadaga Valley Central School and played basketball, football and tennis. He earned his Eagle Scout badge from Troop 219 in 1990 and graduated with the class of 1990. He had been an active member of the CYO and an Altar boy at the Immaculate Conception Church in Cassadaga.
He graduated from Gannon University in 1994 and at completion of ROTC he was commissioned as second lieutenant in U.S. Army in 1994. He served with the 1st Cavalry Medical Evacuation Division in Germany and Bosnia until 1999.
He is survived by his parents and his son, Brock; brother, Matthew (Jennifer) Lawson, Houston, Texas; his uncle, Melvin (Cathy) Roberts, Avon Park, Fla.; aunts; Sue Longhouse of West Seneca and Sheila Evanczek, Dunkirk; and paternal grandmother, Josefine Lawson, Stockton. Also survived by his girlfriend, Shetye Cyper, her son, Tristan and her parents, Gajanan & Shakun.
He enjoyed hunting and returning to his Cassadaga roots and that included being a Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan. He was an active father to his son’s, Brock and had helped to coach his football team.
Jake was a proud member of the Houston Texas Fire Department, Station 23 and the West Lake Fire Department also of Houston. As a boy, he emulated the members of the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department and spent 18 years in the Fire Service in Texas, as a paramedic and captain of Station 23. He won numerous awards as Firefighter and Paramedic of the year.
He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Millie and Lester Longhouse; his paternal grandfather, Hershel Lawson: aunt, Sharon Lawson and aunt, Nancy and uncle, Tom Bartlett, uncle, Larry Longhouse and unclem Steve Evanczek.
Special thank goes out to his brotherhood of firefighters from Houston Station 23 and West Lake Fire Department for their faithful duty and assistance during this difficult time. Jake loved you all.
The Firefighters Memorial Service will be held In Houston on Nov. 9, at 10 a.m.
A celebration of life will be held at the Cassadaga American Legion on Nov. 13, from 5-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Gross Foundation, P.O. Box 62, Cassadaga, NY 14718.
Arrangements are by the Jordan Funeral, Sinclairville.