Obituary for Monk Dawson
Clarence Franklin “Monk” Dawson died 21 April 2019, surrounded by his family. Monk was born 30 June 1922 in Coryelltown, New Castle, Colorado to Pearl Ethel Rogers and Jess Freeman Dawson; the New Castle area has been his home for almost 97 years. An avid and active outdoorsman, Monk lived a full life working as a taxidermist, guide and outfitter for 57 years. Monk attended the Glenwood Springs and Rifle congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he worked mostly with the youth through the BSA scouting program and felt especially close to God while in the grandeur of His natural creations. Monk was also known for the cowboy poetry he wrote in later years. He will be laid to rest in one of the two log caskets he built for his wife and himself.
Monk served in the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in December of 1943 after contracting rheumatic fever while at Camp Hale, Colorado. He later supported the war effort in shipbuilding and construction work in California and Hawaii.
Monk married his “Lady” Betty Lois Stayton on his 26th birthday, 30 June 1948, in New Castle. They have three children. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in 1960.
Monk was preceded in death by his three sons-in-laws, Bob Bloomfield, Michael Porter, and Bill Porter; his brother Roy Dawson; and his parents.
He is survived by his brother Earl (Donna) Dawson and sister Ruth Jennings, both of Rifle; his wife of 70 years Betty Lois Stayton Dawson; daughter Becky Bloomfield and her three children, their spouses, and six great-grandchildren; daughter Marla Porter and her five children, their spouses, and sixteen great-grandchildren; and son Mark (Sharon) Dawson and their six children, their spouses, and eleven great-grandchildren.
Monk lived by and often echoed his relative Will Rogers’ outlook, “I have never met a man or woman I couldn’t like.”
Funeral services will be held Saturday April 27th, 2019 1:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1400 Birch Ave, Rifle, CO 81650, followed by burial at Highland Cemetery in New Castle.
Due to Betty’s allergies, please do not bring Flowers to the church. Thank you.
In lieu of flowers please, Leave a condolence for the family or donate to:
10th Mountain Division Foundation, Inc.
133 South Van Gordon Street, Suite 200
Lakewood, CO 80228
www.tenthmountainfoundation.org
Monk served in the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in December of 1943 after contracting rheumatic fever while at Camp Hale, Colorado. He later supported the war effort in shipbuilding and construction work in California and Hawaii.
Monk married his “Lady” Betty Lois Stayton on his 26th birthday, 30 June 1948, in New Castle. They have three children. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in 1960.
Monk was preceded in death by his three sons-in-laws, Bob Bloomfield, Michael Porter, and Bill Porter; his brother Roy Dawson; and his parents.
He is survived by his brother Earl (Donna) Dawson and sister Ruth Jennings, both of Rifle; his wife of 70 years Betty Lois Stayton Dawson; daughter Becky Bloomfield and her three children, their spouses, and six great-grandchildren; daughter Marla Porter and her five children, their spouses, and sixteen great-grandchildren; and son Mark (Sharon) Dawson and their six children, their spouses, and eleven great-grandchildren.
Monk lived by and often echoed his relative Will Rogers’ outlook, “I have never met a man or woman I couldn’t like.”
Funeral services will be held Saturday April 27th, 2019 1:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1400 Birch Ave, Rifle, CO 81650, followed by burial at Highland Cemetery in New Castle.
Due to Betty’s allergies, please do not bring Flowers to the church. Thank you.
In lieu of flowers please, Leave a condolence for the family or donate to:
10th Mountain Division Foundation, Inc.
133 South Van Gordon Street, Suite 200
Lakewood, CO 80228
www.tenthmountainfoundation.org